David G. Chase
David Gordon Chase, 98, died peacefully on January 24, 2019.
Born in Manchester, NH on October 25, 1920, to Curtis Corning and Marian Perkins Chase, David grew up in Londonderry and Newport, New Hampshire. He attended Kimball Union Academy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the University of New Hampshire where he met his wife of 74 years, Constance Estes Chase, who predeceased him.
Dave graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from UNH. He was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and the Outing Club. He went to work out of college for Wright Aeronautical Corp but after a year he was inducted into the NACA, forerunner of NASA, assigned to the experimental lab in Cleveland, Oh. From there his active duty took him to Albuquerque, NM with the Manhattan Project. After the war he worked for Nashua Corp in Nashua, NH for 3 years. He left that job to buy his own company, Austin Industries, Inc, in Marlboro, Ma. The company was an innovator in plastic packaging. He and his wife raised their family in Sudbury, Ma. where Dave was a member of the planning board and was involved with the boy scouts and little league. He encouraged the family to participate in the sport he loved, with weekend ski trips to Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine. After semi-retiring they made their homes in Silver lake, NH to take advantage of the skiing and hiking and in Westport, Ma. to take advantage of the beaches and golf at the Acoaxet Club. Once completely retired, Dave and Connie chose Citrus County and Black Diamond Ranch as their permanent home. Dave became interested in the Senior Games in his late 80’s, first participating in the 85-90 age group and continuing into his 90’s. He set records in the High Jump, Triple Jump, Long Jump, Discus, Shot Put, Hammer Throw and Javelin and his results still remain in the top ten finishes. He also traveled to Colorado and continued to ski well into his 80’s with his brother Curt who predeceased him.
David is survived by his four children, Richard of Port Townsend, Wa. and The Bahamas, Nancy (Hench) of Marblehead, Ma. and Lecanto, Fl, Susan(and Michael Shaughnessy) of Goffstown, NH, and Carol (and Brandy Schmoll) of New Bern, NC, as well as 9 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren. Over the course of his life Dave was always available to help when needed on DIY construction projects. He enjoyed traveling, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, cards-especially cribbage, games-especially Upwords, cheering on his Red Sox and Patriots, woodworking/building cabinets and landscaping/building stone walls. He was an avid skier and bridge player before golf became his full time passion. His many trophies are a testament to the hours spent on the links. His enthusiasm and positivity in life was obvious. He will be missed by all who knew him.
