Ronald Henry Chase M.D., 90, of Vero Beach, passed away on Sept. 1, 2016.
He is survived by his wife Mona; his son Colin; his daughter Amanda; grandson Zach; brother Henry; and sister Diane Madden.
Chase was born Jan. 31, 1936, in New Britain, Conn. He attended Taft Preparatory School in Watertown, Conn., and Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. After college he attended New York Medical School in New York, N.Y. During this time, he married the love of his life Mona Margaret McMann.
When he finished medical school he joined the Navy and was stationed in Key West. When he completed his two years of service, he went back to school at the University of Miami to study Radiology. As a Radiologist he went to Key West to become one of the island’s first Radiologists. He serviced the Navy Hospital, Monroe General, later to become Florida Keys Memorial.
He helped design the Radiology department and was instrumental in getting the first CAT Scans and MRI machines to the Keys. After 20 years in Key West he moved up to Marathon, Duck Key, and practiced radiology at Fisherman’s and Mariner’s Hospitals for another 15 years. When he retired in 1996, he moved to Vero Beach and enjoyed his retirement between Vero Beach and Blue Hill, Maine.
Chase had many passions in his life, but his biggest one was boating and being on the water. Even as a young boy in Connecticut, he enjoyed being on the water, Long Island Sound, and water sports. Key West was the perfect place he could indulge in his passion for ocean.
He had several boats, but his love was the Morning Star, a 39-foot Pearson sailboat. He became Commodore of the Key West Yacht Club in the 1980s and it was a title he was proud to add to his long list of accomplishments.
His family will hold a Celebration of His Life at a later date. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please make a donation to the Humane Society of Vero Beach in his honor.
