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Herbert Y. 'Hap' Chafe Ottawa, ON Canada QCWA # 10135 |
Passed away peacefully at the Great War Memorial Hospital, Perth, Ontario on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Beloved husband of the late Eleanor Chafe (nee Loveys) and proud father of Carol Chafe (Ian Pulling), Jan Preece (Bob) and Geoffrey (Canda), and loving grandfather of Jessica Besharah, Walker Besharah, Mitchell Chafe and Brookelyn Chafe. Predeceased by his parents Hugh Chafe and Bella Chafe (nee Yabsley) and his sister, Carol Squires. He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews A special thank you to Dr. Richard Moxon and to the staff of the Great War Memorial Hospital, in particular the nurses of the CCU, for their excellent care and kind attention over the past many years. Hap was born on November 10, 1924 aboard the SS Sable Island enroute from Boston to St. John's, Newfoundland. He grew up in St. John's, where he attended Prince of Wales Collegiate and spent his summers on the Chafe family farm at Fourth Pond in The Goulds. Hap joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in January 1943 at Halifax and served at a variety of bases in Canada and the Aleutian Islands. Following his demobilization in 1946, he returned to St. John's and started his second career at a photographer for the St. John's Daily News. After Confederation in 1949, when the rest of Canada joined Newfoundland and Labrador, Hap was hired by the Canadian government as an air traffic controller in Gander. As one of the first oceanic controllers, he was instrumental in the development of procedures for TransAtlantic Air Traffic Control still used in a modified format today. In 1963 he accepted a promotion to a desk job with the Airports Division of the Ministry of Transport in Ottawa. Hap enjoyed a party and good company, and he made many steadfast friends over the years. He was a longtime active member of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). He assisted with radio communications for many local events including the Ice Storm of 1998. A man of many talents, Hap pushed himself to become skilled in sailing, carving, painting, and computing. His children have been the beneficiaries of his talents and skills. Hap has requested that there be no visitation. A graveside ceremony will be held at Elmwood Cemetery, Perth, Ontario on Saturday April 28, 2012 at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to one of two organizations very close to his heart, the Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) or the Great War Memorial Hospital Foundation.