Chester Charles Langway Jr.

Chester Charles Langway, Jr. of Harwich, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family, on Monday, April 29, 2025. He was 95 years old.
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Chester was the son of Chester Sr. and Agnes (McLush) Langway. He was raised in Millbury, MA and attended Millbury High School before enlisting in the U.S. Military. He served 15 months in pre-war Korea with the U.S. Army, and subsequently reenlisted for another 38 months with the U.S. Air Force in Germany during the Berlin Air Lift. He was honorably discharged as S/Sgt. in October 1952. Before his discharge he was stationed in Montana for 3 months and ventured to Glacier National Park and was in awe with the rock formations and strata as well as magnificent glaciers that were much bigger at that time, then now.
After his service, Chester took full advantage of the GI Bill to pursue a higher education. He received an A.B. degree in Geology (1955) from Boston University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa; a M.A. in Mineralogy (1956) from Boston University Graduate School, and a PhD in Geology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1965). It was the encouragement of his mentor and long-time colleague at Michigan, Dr. James Zumberge that he pursued glaciology. Zumberge retired as the President of USC in 1990.
Dr. Langway's distinguished professional career began during the period 1956-1959, when he was employed as a civilian research geologist/glaciologist at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Snow, Ice and Permafrost Research Establishment (SIPRE) in Wilmette, Illinois. In 1957 Dr. Langway was appointed by Dr. Henri Bader, Chief Scientist of SIPRE, to be responsible for developing and planning the laboratory's entire ice core research program. This was followed by a two-year leave of absence, during which he received an appointment as a Research Associate at the University of Michigan. He rejoined the Corps of Engineers at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover, New Hampshire in 1961. From 1966 - 1975 he served as Chief of the Snow and Ice Research Branch of the Research Division.
In 1975, he joined the State University of New York at Buffalo as a full professor and chairman of the Geology Department as well as continuing his Ice Core Drilling research program funded partly by the National Science Foundation, until his retirement in 1996.
A pioneering researcher in the field of ice core science, Chester participated in over 30 expeditions to Greenland and Antarctica and authored or co-authored more than 130 scientific papers. His Ph. D. thesis was published as a special paper by the American Geophysical Union. He was deeply proud of his collaborations with renowned glaciologists Hans Oeschger (University of Bern) and Willi Dansgaard (University of Copenhagen).
In recognition of his scientific contributions, Chester was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2011, accepting his award at Harvard University. He also received honorary doctorates from the University of Bern and the University of Copenhagen. His legacy is permanently etched into the landscape of Antarctica with the naming of Mount Langway in his honor.
Additional honors include memberships in numerous professional societies: Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Geological Society of America, American Geophysical Union, and Arctic Institute of North America; Member of Antarctic Society, New Geophysical Union, The Polar Society, the Japanese Society of Snow and Ice, and the International Glacialogical Society.
Chester was a devoted patriot who remained deeply grateful for the opportunities afforded to him by his country. He lived a life of intellectual rigor, professional integrity, and unwavering dedication to science and education. His colleagues became his lifelong friends. He was a generous man and with a strong work ethic. He always said "You can do anything you want to do in this world, it just requires some drive and a lot of hard W O R K, and that is not a radio station!" He was extremely creative, a carpenter, loved the beauty of the earth and always commented on a blue sky and colorful sunset. He loved to read and was always learning, and impressed his children and grandchildren to do the same. He was a collector of art and very passionate about learning the history of the world. He loved classical music and in his collection of albums included music of the Beatles and Johnny Cash. He perfected his Mother's sparerib and cabbage soup recipe and dished it out to every kid that passed through his kitchen. And he loved ice cream almost as much as he loved his four children and five grandchildren.
He is survived by his daughters, Nancy and JoAnn Langway of Harwich Port; his son, Thomas Langway and his wife Margaret of East Harwich; and their three daughters, Emma, Lily, and Molly. Chester is also survived by his sister, Mary Policastro and her husband Joseph of North Brunswick, NJ.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Rosemary (Vovesny), and his daughter Mary, who is survived by her children Dylan of Taos, NM and Annika of Rochester, NY. Chester was also predeceased by his brothers Paul of Warwick, NY, Robert of Southboro, MA, Joseph of Harwich, MA, and Richard of Millbury, as well as his sisters Phyllis Johnson of Webster Lake, MA, Patricia Fox and Janice LaVallee, of Millbury, MA.
Chester Langway leaves behind a legacy of groundbreaking scientific achievement, enduring family love, and deep appreciation for the opportunities that shaped his remarkable life.
Visitation will be held on May 08, 2025, from 4pm to 6pm, at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, Blute Chapel, 678 Main Street, Harwich Center. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on May 09, 2025, at 11am, at Saint Brigid's Church, 59 North Main Street, Millbury, MA 01527. Burial will follow at Saint Brigid's Cemetery, West Street, Millbury, MA 01527.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer's Family Support Center in Brewster, MA.