Charles Chase

1922 - 2017

Charles G. "Chuck" Chase

Charles Gardner "Chuck" Chase, 94, a resident of Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster, MD and formerly of Fishkill, NY died on Wednesday, May 3, 2017.

Born in Cortland, NY on November 21, 1922, he was the son of the late Burton M. and Frances Loretta (Houlihan) Chase. He was the husband of the late Barbara Jean "BJ" Schoonmaker Chase, whom he married in 1948.

Mr. Chase was a WW II Army veteran serving from 1942-1946. He received a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York, as well as two masters in education.

Along with his wife, he was a civic activist, devoting his career and free time to improving the lives of children. He started his career as a public school teacher for the state of New York and went on to serve the State Department of Education as Director of Planning and Evaluation at the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), spearheading some of the earliest programs for gifted and talented, and intellectually disabled children in the country. He was also Assistant Director for Special Projects at the Cary Arboretum of the New York Botanical Garden.

He served as President of the Greene County Teachers Association, Vice President of the Boy Scouts of Dutchess County and Treasurer of the Girl Scout Council. He was an Eagle Scout, and directed courses for Wood Badge candidates for the Boy Scouts of America. He was also President and long-time member of the Rotary Club of Fishkill, and a member of the Adirondack Mountain Club. While at Carroll Lutheran Village, he was the editor for their literary magazine, "Creative Expressions." He enjoyed backpacking, tennis, fishing, reading, writing, and the NY Times crossword puzzle.

Mr. Chase is survived by children and spouses, James Chase (Barbara Collins) of Sykesville, MD; Ellice Chase (Dr. Robert Young) of Katonah, NY; Anthony Chase (Javier Bustillos) of Buffalo, NY and Barbara E. Chase (Craig Kunaschk) of Los Angeles, CA; grandchildren Ian and Matthew Young, Charles and Edward Collins-Chase and Chase and Clare Kunaschk. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary L. Bowen.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the Krug Chapel of Carroll Lutheran Village, 300 St. Luke Circle, Westminster, MD at 11 a.m. A reception will immediately follow the service.

Cremation arrangements handled by Pritts Funeral Home & Chapel. Interment of his ashes will be at Fishkill Rural Cemetery, in Fishkill, New York, the town in which he raised his family and where he was prominent in civic affairs for many years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the B.J. Chase Scholarship Fund, Girls Scouts of the Hudson Valley, 2 Great Oak Lane, Pleasantville, NY 10570.

Online condolences may be offered at www.prittsfuneralhome.com.