Grey Chase

CHASE, Grey (Robert Edwin)
Grey (Robert Edwin) Chase was born on February 1, 1947 to Lyda and Gene Chase, in South Charleston, West Virginia. One of three boys, Grey's early life at home and at school was not always easy. He got by with help from friends, a paper route, his favourite breakfast of cherry pie and Pepsi, and the pinball machine at the corner store. Grey's older brother Gary influenced him greatly, introducing him to Charlie Parker, abstract expressionism, and the enduring allure of exotic cars. The Appalachian hills and woods that surrounded the town were perfect for racing his motorcycle.

Grey attended university in Indiana and was drafted shortly after graduation. Notification that he was being deployed to Vietnam and assigned to long range reconnaissance influenced his decision to desert. He chose to move to Canada and arrived in Kitchener, Ontario in 1969. With assistance from members of the local Mennonite community, Grey quickly settled and began working in child welfare, providing support to children and youth.

Only after the 1974 conditional pardon for deserters was Grey free to enter the US. The Undesirable Discharge he eventually received became one of his most prized possessions.

Always ready for new adventures Grey moved to Victoria in the late 1970s. There too he formed many lasting friendships, and Nathan, his beloved English Bull Terrier, continued to be a great companion. Having earned a Master's degree by then, Grey worked in BC as a therapist until his retirement in 2014.

Grey continued to enjoy travels and adventures - Yukon, Haida Gwaii, the Maritimes and many trips back to Ontario. With Elizabeth, he travelled in the UK where her son studied and taught. Grey rode a little motorcycle through Umbria, took the wrong train to meet Elizabeth in Pisa and learned (mostly) how to drive on the "wrong" side of the road in the UK. He and Elizabeth enjoyed getting to know and love her granddaughters in California and those little girls loved Grey.

Grey was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2018. Defying the odds, he lived longer than expected, and continued to find joy in his friends, music, and the nearby forest and ocean. His partner Elizabeth was steadfast in providing patient and compassionate care. Grey died on May 15, 2024 in Victoria, BC, on his own terms - of course! - surrounded by love and music. Once again, he chose to leave behind a situation destined only to become much worse, opting instead to cross another border into an unknowable future.

Whether chasing the deal or the dream, in a fast car, kayak, motorcycle, or bicycle, Grey was truly an individual: tenacious and daring, stylish, and undeterred by convention or the opinions of others. He hitchhiked across Canada, drove to Panama and back, visited his goddaughter in Mexico, and explored the natural world around him with awe and appreciation. Grey was a well-respected colleague and empathetic therapist. He made friends easily and kept them for decades; they loved him for his warmth, honesty, deep conversations, and loyalty. He was playful, creative and charming. His tears flowed freely, and his humour and laughter - often coming alongside one of his magnificent and memorable stories - could erupt at any time.

Many are richer for having known him. Grey will be deeply missed and always remembered.