Robert Chatham

1951 - 2018

Robert Bahnson Chatham

Robert Bahnson Chatham passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 28, 2018, in his home in Carmel Valley, California. He was 67. He was the fourth son of the late Hugh Hill Chatham, Sr., and his wife Anne Bassett Stanley Chatham.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, David Crockett Chatham.

Mr. Chatham was born on June 9, 1951, in Winston Salem, North Carolina and raised in Stanleytown, Virginia. He moved to San Francisco with his family in 1964. Mr. Chatham graduated from Menlo Park College with a degree in Business Management and shortly thereafter, he began working with his father in the construction and management of hotels predominantly located in Northern California. After working in the hospitality business for several years, Mr. Chatham was appointed as President of the hotel management company, Chatmar, Inc., in Monterey, California.

Mr. Chatham had a profound, life-long interest in hunting and fishing. He was happiest in the wild and on the water. His love for the Pacific Ocean motivated his passion for enhancement and sustainability of fishery populations in the Monterey Bay. Recently he had been working with other commercial and sport fisherman towards the re-establishment of an annual release of Salmon fingerlings into the Monterey Bay. His goal was to restore the Salmon fishery population levels to those he witnessed as a young man and to ensure the health of fisheries for future generations.

Mr. Chatham is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Jody Gooden Chatham, his two sons and two daughters: Christopher Chatham, Matthew Chatham, Heather Chatham, and Madelaine Chatham, as well as two brothers: Hugh Hill Chatham Jr. and Richard Stanley Chatham. He is also survived by five grandchildren. As the patriarch of his family he will be missed and remembered lovingly for his laughter, vivacity, kindness, love of his family, and generosity of spirit.

A memorial service will take place on Monday November 5, 2018 at 10:30 AM at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 28005 Robinson Canyon Road, Carmel Valley, CA. A reception will be held after the service at Lodge Restaurant in the Carmel Valley Ranch, 1 Old Ranch Road, Carmel Valley, CA. Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Robert Chatham may be made to the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, 101 Cooper St., Unit 246, Santa Cruz, California 95017 to the attention of Ben Harris or online at https://mbstp.org/about-us/donations/