BOWDOINHAM - Thomas Parker Chase, M.D. of Bowdoinham, Maine passed away surrounded by family at his home on March 23. Dr. Chase was an airman, a physician, a healer, a sailor, and an avid gardener.  He was an accomplished woodworker and craftsman, lover of puzzles and music.  He was a believer in perseverance.  He is a much loved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great grandfather who will be truly missed.

Dr. Chase was a lifelong learner from modest beginnings, born in Dodge City, Kansas on September 1, 1930.  He enlisted in the US Air Force before graduating from college and ultimately became a pilot of B26s during the Korean War.   He returned to civilian life and in 1960 graduated from the medical school at the University of Missouri—Columbia.  He began his medical career with an internship in Pontiac, Michigan.  He had his own practice as a family doctor serving rural communities in Indiana and Ohio.  In 1979 he continued his education in psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch.  After practicing psychiatry for several years in Virginia and Georgia, he settled in Maine and was the director of the eating disorders program at Mercy Hospital in Portland until his retirement in 2002.  

He is survived by his wife, Susan; 2 sisters, Judy Sapegin and her husband Nick Sapegin of Arvada, Colorado and Mary Ann Donnell and her husband Robert Donnell of Norfolk, Virginia; 6 daughters, Cheri Brewer and her husband Don Brewer of Fort Recovery, Ohio, Debbie Haskin of Valdosta, Georgia, Diane Johnson of Massillon, Ohio, Brenda Burns and her husband Neal Burns of Ansonia, Ohio, Lisa Dalrymple and her husband Paul Dalrymple of Westbrook, Maine and Beth Chase and her husband Andy Begin of Bowdoinham, Maine; 3 sons, Steve Chase of Baltimore, Maryland, Chris Chase and his wife Mary Lorino of Richmond, Virginia, and Chuck Chase and his wife Andrea Chase of Omaha, Nebraska; 26 grandchildren, and 20 great grandchildren.

Friends are invited to call 5:00 - 7:00 pm on Friday, April 3 at Kincer Funeral Home, 130 Pleasant Street, Richmond.

A private interment with military honors will be held at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the University of Texas Medical Branch in memory of Thomas Chase M.D.

Please address gifts in his memory to:

Attention: Betsy Clardy

University of Texas Medical Branch

301 University Boulevard

Galveston, Texas  77555-0148

(please designate the donation in memory of Thomas Chase, M.D.)