William M. Chase

William M. Chase of New City, former Commissioner of Planning and Transportation for Rockland County, passed away peacefully at age 87 on Sunday, September 29, 2019. With family by his side, he died after a courageous battle with cancer in the comfort of his home. Bill is survived by his wife Alexandra "Alex," and his three children: Christopher (& Hiroko) Chase of Fukuoka, Japan; Johnathan Chase of Oneonta, NY, and Victoria Chase (& Wayne) of Rexford, NY. Bill is also survived by four grandchildren he adored: Alex, Niki, Dylan, and Andy as well as his brother Arnold (& Cheryl) Chase of Peachtree, Georgia and numerous nieces and nephews, and life long friends. He is pre-deceased by daughter-in-law Patricia Chase and sister Phyllis Radin. Bill was born in Newark, New Jersey on December 28, 1931 to Herman and Molly Chase. He grew up in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and graduated from James Madison High School in 1949. He met his future wife Alex at Brooklyn College where they quickly fell in love and married on June 23, 1953. After college he served in the United States Army during the Korean War and then studied at the University of California at Berkeley where he attained a Masters in City Planning which was his passion. Bill and Alex set off on numerous adventures, criss-crossing the country and traveling around Europe before starting a family in Westchester NY and settling in Rockland County in 1965. Bill went on to become Commissioner of Planning for Rockland County and also served as Commissioner of Transportation. He worked to make his community a better place, serving on the Board of Jawonio and also joining the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockland. Bill was always an optimist and viewed life as one big adventure. He bravely fought his illness over the past few years and even marveled at the people he met and experiences he had along the way. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening on his property, successfully maintaining it's natural beauty for over 50 years. Bill was an inspiration to his family and countless friends and acquaintances. He will be dearly missed. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday November 2, 2019 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockland, 130 Concklin Road, Pomona NY, at 2pm. Funeral Arrangements & Cremation Care have been entrusted to Thomas F. Flynn and Brendan T. Flynn, and the staff of Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations in Bill's memory to United Hospice of Rockland, 11 Stokum Lane, New City, NY. 10956.