Jesse Ronnie Chase

Jesse Ronnie Chase was born to the union of the late Jesse Jerome and Hilda Alzora Riley Chase, on June 7th, 1950, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The family later relocated to Buffalo, New York in 1952 when Ronnie was a toddler.

Ronnie attended East High School in Buffalo, NY. Ronnie was very active in high school participating in the Kiwanis Key Club, Student Council, the school newspaper, as well as sports such as basketball, football, and track - the latter of which he received citywide recognition in the Buffalo (Evening) News. He graduated from East in 1968.

After high school, he attended Prairie View A&M University in Texas to study Electrical Engineering. He earned his degree in 1973. While at Prairie View, Ronnie joined the Theta Rho chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated in 1970. He also participated in ROTC in college. Upon his graduation, Ronnie was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army and he received an honorable discharge in 1974, retiring as a captain.

After his time in the Army, Ronnie was recruited to Arizona to work as an engineer. He worked in Phoenix and Tucson at companies such as Sperry Flight Systems and Hughes Aircraft Company, respectively. As a person with varied interests, Ronnie endeavored into other pursuits such as real estate, investing, and teaching. after a successful career in engineering. As an educator, he worked for various school districts including Phoenix Elementary, Wilson, and Roosevelt. Ronnie was greatly involved in the lives and wellbeing of the students with whom he worked, receiving many accolades from his school communities in which he served.

In 1980, he married Sandra Bryant. The union with his former wife welcomed a beautiful daughter, Teran Nicole born in 1985. Family ties were important to Ronnie, such that he maintained close relationships with his family members in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, LA and Buffalo, NY throughout his life. For years, Ronnie spent his summers in Buffalo, NY where he often spent time with his beloved Aunt Sue (before her passing), as well as a host of other family members and childhood friends. In 2020, Ronnie became a grandson to Koran Marcellis, a title and role he cherished.

Throughout his life, Ronnie had many interests and affiliations. He attended Tanner Chapel A.M.E. Church and First Institutional Baptist Church. He was active in the Phi Iota chapter of Omega Psi Phi. He loved to play and coach softball. He also enjoyed working out and watching sports.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Hilda. He leaves to cherish a loving legacy of memories, his brother, Carl David; daughter, Teran "Nikki" Chase; grandson and the apple of his eye, Koran Collins; stepdaughter, Tracee Hall, and step grandchildren (Elijah, Nicholas and Trinity); a multitude of cousins April, Audrey, Joyce, Jeanette, Shirley, Vicki Lynn, and Shirl to name a few, and a host of other family and friends.