Richard L. Chase

Richard L. Chase of Chiang Rai,Thailand, formerly of Vermont, Cohasset, Scituate and Brockton, Mass., passed away at his mother's seaside home on August 31, 2017 surrounded by his family and loving caregivers. Richard was the son of Claire Chase and the late Edward L. Chase of Cohasset. He is survived by his Thai sons, Ali and Apa Mayer of Chiang Rai, Thailand; his siblings, Peter (Kathy) Chase of Bridgewater, Mark (Laura) Chase of Cohasset, Janet (Don) Gibson of Marshfield, Stephen (Stephanie) Chase of Scituate, Mary Claire Chase of Boston, Jean Chase of Hobe Sound, FL, Sarah Chase of Scituate, Caroline Chase (Bill Condon) of Scituate, Andrew (Jackie) Chase of Marshfield. He was predeceased by his brother, Christopher Chase of Milton. Richards memory will live on in the hearts of his many nieces and nephews and the hundreds of children and families he mentored and helped throughout his life. Richard grew up in Brockton and Scituate and spent time in the Boston area after college. In the early 1980s, Richard moved to Vermonts Northeast Kingdom, the state's most rural and impoverished area where he remained for more than a decade. He began working at Northeast Kingdom Youth services, then a fledgling, community based, non-governmental service agency dedicated to supporting troubled and abused kids. His impact was immediate and significant and the impact of his labor is still felt today. Richards work was the cornerstone for what is now a statewide guardian ad litem program which mandates the appointment of independent advocates for youths facing court action. He worked tirelessly for kids all hours of the day and night. Teens in crisis knew hed always answer their pleas for help. In 1997, in celebration of his fortieth birthday, Richard strapped on his backpack and ventured out for a trek around the world. Thailand was the third stop on his journey. He found a secluded spot by a waterfall in the mountains and knew that this would become his home. The Akha Hilltribe Village welcomed Richard as one of their own. For the last twenty years, Richard continued his humanitarian efforts in the Chiang Rai area, where he helped the hillside villagers build a church and community center, bring in electricity, running water, and sanitary waste systems. He founded a non-profit organization, Jungle View Project (JVP), to fund educational opportunities for the hillside village youth. JVP sponsored hundreds of hillside children to complete their secondary education with most advancing to technical schools and universities. Richard knew each student personally as well as their families, and worked to help them achieve their goals and escape a cycle of corruption, poverty, and despair. To see the outpouring of love and commitment those students returned to Richard and their communities is a testament to his work. His students referred to Richard as "the giver of hope". That is the legacy that will live on forever in this mountain village and beyond. A private Mass celebrating Richards life was held by his family. Richard asked that donations in his memory be made to Alices House, Inc., P.O. Box 681, Humarock, MA 02047 or online at aliceshouse.org. Richards family is very grateful for all the loving care he received from his personal caregivers, the nursing professionals at NVNA and Hospice, the medical staff at the Melanoma Clinic at Dana Farber Cancer Center, and the spiritual community at Glastonbury Abbey. For additional information and guestbook please visit macdonaldfuneralhome.com.