Theodore “Ted” Holt Chase, a former Deputy Supervisor of the Town of Lewisboro and longtime Goldens Bridge resident, died on June 17, 2025, at the age of 93.
Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ted was a graduate of Yale University and a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War. While working at Connecticut General Life Insurance in Hartford, Ted met Barbara Van Vleck. They married in May 1962 and moved shortly after to Poughkeepsie, New York, where Ted began his long career with IBM Corporation. In 1969, with three young children in tow, they settled in Goldens Bridge, New York.
Ted left a lasting mark on Goldens Bridge and the Town of Lewisboro through decades of civic engagement. He coached youth sports, chaired the local United Way fund, served as Commissioner of the Goldens Bridge Fire Department, raised funds to build the original track at John Jay High School, and was both a member and Chairman of the Lewisboro Town Planning Board. He went on to serve four terms on the Lewisboro Town Board and was elected Deputy Supervisor in 1988, a position he held until he stepped down in 1995. He cherished his role in Lewisboro, a community he loved deeply, and helped guide the town planning for responsible growth and development.
On weekends, he could often be found standing outside the Golden Bridge Post Office, shaking hands and listening to the concerns of town residents. In 1996, the Lewisboro Chamber of Commerce named him Citizen of the Year. The local paper wrote: “Mr. Chase has served his town, making few headlines and seeking none, but doing a necessary, not very glamorous public job as his neighbors wanted it done... The result of all those years of service was the well-deserved respect and affection of the townspeople. Few public servants anywhere could leave a greater gap at their departure.”
After retiring from IBM in 1996, Ted and Barbara moved to Chestertown, Maryland, where he continued his commitment to service. Barbara and Ted loved their years in Chestertown, where Ted could often be found on the golf course. In 2017, the couple moved to the Glen Meadows Retirement Community in Glen Arm, Maryland.
Ted greeted everyone with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. He offered “Big Hugs” to anyone who welcomed one and never forgot a face or a name. He loved reading, golf, sailing, summers in New Hampshire and Maine, and lively political debates at the dinner table. He was a mentor to many, a role model to all, and a man of deep integrity, compassion, and quiet strength.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown in Maryland.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Washington College (www.washcoll.edu/give) in honor of Ted Chase to support an annual dinner for business students. Please note “Chase Dinner” with your gift.
