David A. Chase, of Whitefield and Portland, also known as “Babe,” passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on April 18, 2024. He was born Nov. 29, 1942 in Bath, the son of Norman and Lydia (Atwood) Chase.
Dave started his education in a one-room schoolhouse in Whitefield and graduated from Cony High School in 1960. After high school he attended Portland Art School, the University of Maine Fort Kent, and graduated from the University of Maine Portland/Gorham in February 1965. Upon graduation, Dave began his art teaching career in Rumford, until 1970. He moved his family to Woolwich and later Whitefield while he taught at Wiscasset High School until retiring at age 49.
Dave and Betty married in 1961 and were lifetime travelers having traveled extensively to six continents. They enjoyed life most while at the log cabin they built in Whitefield on the Sheepscot River. For many years they operated the Sheepscot Valley Tree Pool. Dave spent countless hours researching, creating and maintaining a community website “Mainething.com/sitemap.” He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, former students, and his community.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty Weaver Chase; their children, David Chase (Becky), of Orono, Lisa Chase, of Cape Elizabeth, AFS son, Marcello Sanchez (Bettina), of Uruguay; grandchildren, Lauren, Sam (wife Sophie), Lydia, Sophie, Isabelle; and brothers, Steve, of Seneca, S.C., Peter, of Fort Worth, Texas; and sister, Marnie Wells, of Salem, N.H. Dave was predeceased by his parents; and brother, Danny.
In accordance with Dave’s wishes, the family will not be having a memorial service.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Whitefield Library to support community programming that promotes his lifelong passion of the pursuit of curiosity, knowledge, and connection (Whitefield Library, P.O. Box 5, Whitefield, ME 04353).
