Chester F. Cotter ’51

Chester F. Cotter ’51, whose 34-year military career included active duty in Korea and long service as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, died at his home in Beaufort, South Carolina, on June 23. Chester was an economics major and a member of Dartmouth’s ROTC unit. During his years in the Army he attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was awarded the Army’s Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster. Chester’s pride in the military was a centerpiece of his life and he retired as a colonel. Another passion was his lifelong love of fine wines. He was a vice president of House of Burgundy, wine importers and sellers. During Dartmouth class reunions, which he and his wife, Pat, faithfully attended, their hotel room was a welcoming space for classmates to sample favorite vintages discovered by the Cotters on their frequent winery tours. Chester also served for many years as a marketing manager in Carrier Corp.’s environmental services division. Chester loved his hometown of Beaufort, where he was a leader in more than 30 social organizations. These included the Grand Convent of Templars, the Society of Colonial Wars, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Priory of St. Vincent. An apartment in New York City and a rustic cabin in Bloomfield, Vermont, added to the enjoyment of his full and varied life, as did his remarkable collection of military miniatures and model trains.