Hamilton Chase ’47

Hamilton Chase ’47 died on November 2, 2013, in a retirement home in Keene, New Hampshire, after a long illness. He grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, attended Rivers County Day School and joined the class in 1943, despite having enlisted in the Army Air Force. He served in the Army from 1945 to 1946 and returned to graduate in 1948 and from Thayer School in 1949. In college he was active in intramural hockey, the Outing Club and Kappa Kappa Kappa. He worked at Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford, Connecticut, for five years, left for New Departure Ball Bearings in Bristol, Connecticut, and then moved to Keene to work for Miniature Precision Ball Bearings. In 1963 he founded Clean Way Industries to engineer and build cleaning systems and clean rooms. In 1972 he founded Clean Energy Systems to sell and install solar energy systems. He was a founding officer of the American Association of Contamination Control. Having learned to fly while in the Army, he bought his own plane, which he and his family enjoyed. In Keene he was an active volunteer in sports, music, education and politics. Ham’s contributions were numerous, and included serving as reunion committee chairman, class secretary, class executive committee member, local club president and alumni chairman for Tri Kap. In recognition of his service to the College and class, Ham was recognized by the College as one of its Wearers of the Green. He is survived by his wife of 62 years and five children.