Henry "Chip" Francis Strapp

STRAPP, Henry "Chip" Francis Passed away on January 13, 2026, with his wife and daughter by his side, after a short and valiant battle with lymphoma. He was 82 years old.

Chip was the beloved husband of 42 years to Ann Noble Strapp of Needham, MA, Fort Myers, FL and Center Harbor, NH; cherished father to Joanna; father-in-law to Andrew Hyde; and adored “Grampy” to Ella, who is named after his late mother, Eleanor Elcock Strapp. He is also predeceased by his father, Harry Strapp.

Chip leaves behind a younger brother, Eric Strapp (Anne Boyd); his nieces and nephew, Eleanor (Ayd), Anne (Flynn), Edward; a vast extended family; and countless friends.

Chip was born in Boston and raised in Brookline. He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he majored in Business Administration and played hockey. He spent six years in the Army Reserves and National Guard during the Vietnam era where he held a number of non-commissioned command positions.

For 28 years, he worked with Saucony Footwear, part of Hyde Athletic Industries, and served as president of the Spot-Bilt Footwear Division until the company was sold. He started Pentagon Sports, a sporting goods wholesaler, and served as president of C&S Associates Consulting. He was the official free sporting goods supplier for his whole extended family.

Since 2007, he volunteered with Children’s Well-Being Foundation, a non-profit organization bringing free healthcare to children in Costa Rica.

An avid golfer, Chip was a member of Brae Burn Country Club for 41 years, where he and Ann were married in 1983. Brae Burn held a very special place in his heart and many saw him as an honorary mayor there - at every meal, he was greeted by friends and made the rounds shaking hands. He became a member of the Estero Country Club in Florida in 2014, where he served on two boards and had his first hole-in-one, a proud moment for the whole family.

Chip also excelled at racquet sports. In the 1970s he founded the Wellesley Platform Tennis Club, and he helped bring the sport to Brae Burn. He was also a longtime member of the Longwood Cricket Club and the Union Boat Club, and he taught many family members how to improve their game.

Chip's favorite place in the world was Camp Asquam on Squam Lake, New Hampshire, where his family has gathered for five generations. Chip was the oldest of 28 first cousins who spend summers at Asquam and many of whom considered Chip to be a mentor. In his life there, he led hikes through the White Mountains, played tennis, fished, boated and in his later years, gave his granddaughter, and all the kids, unlimited rides in his golf cart.

He will be remembered for his lightning-quick wit, his booming voice, his spirited outfits, his cooking skills, his natural leadership, his charisma, and above all, his unwavering loyalty to his family and friends.

His family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women’s Hospital for the excellent care and compassion they showed Chip during his illness.

Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington Street (Route 16), WELLESLEY on Monday, January 19 from 4:00-7:00pm. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church on Tuesday January 20th at 502 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02482 at 10:00am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Burial and interment to follow at Holyhood Cemetery, 584 Heath Street, Chestnut Hill, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the organizations that Chip supported: The Children’s Well-Being Foundation (www.cwbfoundation.org) or to Lymphoma Research via The Pan-Mass Challenge Rider #DF0093