Chester H. McPHEE

McPHEE, Chester H.


Chester "Chet" Herman McPhee, 83, of Newington, passed away unexpectedly the morning of December 14, 2012 while doing what he loved, hosting his Friday morning radio show. Chet was born March 24, 1929 in Youngstown, Ohio; son of the late Chester Herman Sr. and Mabel Eleazar McPhee. Chet attended Oberlin College for his Undergraduate Degree in English Literature and is where he met his future wife, Jane Deschaux McPhee. After graduating, he served as a Corporal for the U.S. Army in the Korean War from 1951-1953. Upon returning from the war he married Jane on July 19, 1953. After their wedding they moved to Columbus, Ohio where Chet took his first job at Ohio State University where he started the lacrosse program while earning his Master of Arts Degree. In the fall of 1957, Chet was hired as a professor at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. At Trinity College, Chet coached freshman football, started a lacrosse program where he coached the varsity team. He was also the assistant swimming coach while teaching and earning his second Master's Degree. In 1968 he took a year sabbatical, and he returned to Ohio State to begin his doctoral studies program. He returned to Trinity in 1969 and to his duties to the football, lacrosse, and swimming programs. He received his Doctorate of Philosophy Degree from Ohio State in 1971. Then, in 1979, Chet focused on the swimming programs at Trinity and became the head coach of the Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Teams until his retirement in 1994. After retirement Chet remained an active member of the athletic department staff, substitute teaching for PE classes and working on special assignments for the Athletic Director. It was also at this time that Chet began his second "career" at Trinity. His love of music offered him an opportunity to DJ at the college radio station WRTC 89.3. At WRTC Chet hosted his Friday morning program Sunrise Serenade. A member of the Greater Hartford Musicians Association for 55 years, Chet was honored to play with many talented musicians who became his great friends. Among these many accomplishments, Chet always found time to be a loving husband, father, and proud grampa. He always found time to be with his family, from the times it counted most to weeknights for dinner, he was always there to tell one of his many "stories" and make you smile. Chet was predeceased by his wife, Jane and his sister Virginia Mullarkey and brother Frank McPhee both of Youngstown, OH. Chet leaves behind his sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffrey and Joanne McPhee of Wethersfield, and Douglas and Rebecca McPhee of Southington; as well as his grandchildren, Jennifer McPhee and her fiancé Jordan Coleman of Middletown; Jeremy McPhee of Wethersfield; and Jonathan McPhee of Manhattan, NY. Not only was Chet an accomplished teacher, coach, and musician but he was a loving and caring father and grandfather who will be missed by his Trinity family, friends and most of all, his close family.
Calling hours will be Friday Dec. 21, 2012 from 4-8 p.m. at Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd., Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in Corpus Christi Church, 601 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield. Attendees are asked to go directly to the Church. Burial will be private and at the wishes of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Chester's name can be made to WRTC Marathon c/o Trinity College, 300 Summit St. Hartford, CT 06106. To leave online condolences please visit www.farleysullivan.com