Nan B. Chequer

Nan Budde Chequer, of Riverside, CT, mother to Elizabeth (Hendee), Anne, and Laura, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2025.
Born August 19, 1938, to August and Grace Budde (née Guthrie), Nan grew up in Teaneck, NJ, as older sister to brothers Neil and Bruce. After graduating from Teaneck High School, she attended Vassar College on a full scholarship, where she was elected Chief Justice (co-chairman of the student body), reported for the school newspaper, received the Chemical Rubber Award for achievement in chemistry, and earned one of 21 spots on the Vassar Daisy Chain (chosen for scholarship, contribution to school, and "appearance"). Nan also worked multiple jobs to help support her family's finances, including reporting at the Bergen Evening Record and clerical work for The Ford Motor Company.
Following her graduation from Vassar, Nan began a 22-year career in photographic science at Polaroid Corporation in Cambridge, MA, working as a chemist alongside the founder, Dr. Edwin H. Land, on the development of several influential products, including the SX-70 camera. During her time at Polaroid, she participated in the landmark litigation of Polaroid Corp v Eastman Kodak Co, which led to the largest patent infringement settlement at the time for Kodak's commercialization of Land's patented technology for instant developing film. The case spanned 14 years, during which time Nan attended the Yale Law School, graduated in 1986 at the age of 47, and continued in a consultative role until Polaroid's eventual victory in 1991. Nan was Of Counsel at Tyler, Cooper & Alcorn, specializing in Trusts & Estates until her retirement, after which she remained active as a docent at the Bruce Museum, a member of the Altar Guild at St. Paul's in Riverside, CT, and was the first woman to serve as a Flag Officer at Riverside Yacht Club, as Secretary.
In 1963, Nan married John H. Chequer, with whom she raised her three daughters in Newton, MA, London, UK, Los Angeles, CA, and Greenwich, CT. In any locale, Nan's unwavering priority was her daughters and she was actively involved in all aspects of their development. She served in leadership roles on PTAs and parents councils; executive produced school and church theater productions; hung wallpaper in bedrooms, furnished and electrified hand-built dollhouses, created any imaginable Halloween costume, and hand-sewed the most exquisite ballgowns for Barbies. Her gourmet cooking inspired birthday requests the likes of duck in green peppercorn sauce, roast lamb with ratatouille, and Chocolate Charlotte Malakoff, and not a Christmas passed without both a trifle and a Bûche de Noël.
In 1988, Nan married Herbert F. Schwartz, with whom she shared a passion for law, and adopted his love of sailing. Together with friends and family, they campaigned and cruised his yacht Wenden to multiple ports and a host of victories.
Nan is predeceased by her parents; her husband, Herb; her ex-husband, John; her brother, Bruce Budde and sister-in-law Kathy; and survived by her brother, Neil Budde (Ansie); her daughters, Elizabeth Hendee (Rick), Anne Chequer, Laura Chequer (Paul Craine); Herb's children, Wendy Schwartz (Neil Radisch), Karen Wirima, Peter Schwartz (Kira); and her beloved grandchildren, Grace Hendee, Brooke Hendee, Benjamin Craine, Duncan Craine, Sarah Radisch, Emma Radisch, Ethan Schwartz, and James Schwartz.
A service to celebrate Nan's life will be held at 11:30am Friday, May 9 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Riverside, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nan's memory to Fairfield County Hospice House, 1 Den Road, Stamford, CT 06902.