Glenn Chaffee
1920-2002
"Here was a man who held tenaciously to basic beliefs that were so ingrained that they had to be the pillars on which Camp was built. I think of four that are obvious to us all. 1) He believed in the Bible as the source of truth and spiritual instruction for all ages. 2)He had a heart for missions. 3) He was a man of prayer. 4) He believed in youth. "
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He loved us, he scared us, he cared for us and he scolded us. Staff, camper, his love, concern, and passion was constant and comforting. He will always be an example to strive after. A man who loved the Lord, and wanted teens to love Him too. |
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LINK: Tribute to Dad, by Rick Chaffee |
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LINK: Glenn Chaffee-Camp Berea, by Wayne Farrington |
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"It is a bit ironic that in a year when Camp Berea has had one of it’s most successful seasons ever the two people who were most instrumental in the existence of Camp Berea as we know it have gone on to their eternal rest and reward. I believe it is God’s way of saying “Well done, good and faithful servants for setting such a good foundation and example.” How fitting too that many involved in this continued success have been so closely associated with the Chaffees at Camp and share the heritage they left. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Chaffee. Thank you Dad and Mom. Thank you Grampa and Grammie. Thank you Beepa. We love you and will never forget you. There is always a place for you at Camp Berea and in our hearts." |
I am standing on the
lakeshore. An eagle at my side
spreads his wings to the morning breeze and starts for the blue sky. He
is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch him until at
length he appears like a speck against a white cloud just where the
pine trees and painted sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says, "There, he is gone!"
"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all. He is just as large in wing span and
beautiful in sight as he was when he left my side. And he is just as able
to soar to his destination.
His diminished size is in me, not in him. And just at that
moment when someone says, "There he is gone!" there are other eyes
watching him coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout,
"Here he comes!"
And that is dying.
Adaptation from Henry Van Dyke, by Bruce Trask, grandson
CUMBERLAND--The Reverend Glenn Robert Chaffee, 82, of Cumberland, died October 23, 2002. He died peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones.
Rev. Chaffee was born on June 1, 1920 in Huntington Massachusetts, the son of Robert and Avis Chaffee. He graduated from Huntington High School in 1938 and attended Providence Bible Institute, Nyack College, Nyack N.Y., Gordon College in Wenham Massachusetts and the University of New Hampshire. He married Edith Dugas, also from Huntington, on August 2, 1941.
Rev. and Mrs. Chaffee entered pastoral ministry together in 1942 and for over 50 years served churches in Sheffield, Mass., Hill, N.H., East Wilton and West Peru, Me. Following his retirement in 1991 , he served several other churches in rural Maine as interim minister.
Rev. Chaffee was also an educator. His first teaching position was in Wilmott Flats, N.H., where he taught all eight elementary grades in a one room school house. For nearly twenty years, from 1962 to 1979 he was both English teacher and Athletic Director at the Glen Cove Christian Academy in Rockport, Me.
Athletics were always an important part of his life. After starring in three sports in high school he went on to become the captain-coach of the basketball team at Gordon College in 1946 . He remained active in athletics throughout his life. Coaching teams at Glen Cove, he twice took his basketball teams to the Western Maine Class S title games. In 1979 he founded a basketball summer camp for high school players. He also maintained an active schedule as a Board Certified Basketball Official for over 33 years. An injury forced him to reluctantly give up officiating at the age of 77, at which time he was still refereeing up to 5 games a week.
In 1960 Rev. Chaffee founded Camp Berea, a Christian summer camp for teenagers on Bear Pond in North Turner. He directed this camp for 35 years. He saw this as part of a mission outreach that included several trips to international mission locations and the founding of the Berean Volunteer Missionary Fellowship, a mission promoting organization that helped guide young people into mission work.
Rev. Chaffee was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Edith. He is survived by two daughters, Roberta Farrington and her husband Wayne, Joy Byron and her husband Frank; two sons, Theodore and his wife Lynne, and Richard and his wife, Lois; and one sister, Thelma Cushman of Penacook, N.H. Rev. Chaffee had 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
