Obituary of William A. Chace

      William A. Chace, known as Bill by most, passed away on Friday, May 21, 2021. He was a beloved father, grandpa, partner, brother, and friend.

      Bill is survived by four siblings and their significant others: sister, Jane Fishman and husband Stu; brother, Jimmy Chace and wife Carrie; sister, Liz Cowie and husband Gordon; sister, Kim Peckfelder and husband Joe. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family. He is predeceased by sister Linda Chace, brothers Larry Chace and Ernie Chace, and granddaughter Avery Mitchell.

      Dearly loved by Bill were his four children and seven grandchildren who loved him immensely in return: son, Jonathan Chace; daughter, Heather Chace and her children Autumn, Noah, and Brooke; son, Matt Chace, his wife Gina, and their children Anna and Wyatt; daughter, Jennifer Mitchell and her son Tommy.

      Bill leaves behind his loving partner of fourteen years, Nancy Fraga, and her children and grandchildren, who accepted him as a loving family member: Jay Fraga, his wife Jessica, and their children Bella and Chase; Brooke Fraga Dorsett, her children Ryan and Maya, and fiance Roy Leyva. Along with Nancy, he was the proud dad of three dogs, Sacha, Baylee, and Nigel, whom he loved very much.

      Whether attending live concerts or spinning records, one of Bill’s greatest pleasures was enjoying music. He was incredibly proud of being a road manager, announcer, and promoter for the Connecticut-based rock and roll band, DiamondBack. Bill considered members Jeff Wheeler, the late, great Paulie Bassett, Paul Lusky and Jeff Alamed among his closest friends. His love of music steered him towards learning to play the bass guitar as a hobby and was the source of many great stories he loved to tell.

      Bill’s many newer friendships played a significant role in his later years. Being an enthusiastic supporter of local music enabled him to meet many people and foster new friendships. He enjoyed climbing the fence at home to visit with his neighbor, Rick Racine, for a cold drink and an old western movie.

      Sports also played a significant role in Bill’s life. Fishing is a family tradition he enjoyed. He played ice hockey, baseball, and softball as a young man. Bill was a lifelong Red Sox and Bruins fan, rooted for the Raiders, and was an avid fan of NASCAR and racing. Collecting memorabilia concerning all of these sports was something he also took delight in.

      Those closest to Bill also recognize that he was selfless. He would have given the shirt off his back to a complete stranger if they needed it. Whether it was a kind word, lifting furniture, or just quiet support, Bill would help out in any way he could. Bill never knew a stranger, only a friend he hadn’t met yet. He loved the smile on the faces of his grandchildren at Christmas, and the laughter he could get from a well-chosen birthday card. Through everything that Bill did, it just never seemed about him; it was always for those he loved.

     Though Bill may be gone from the physical world, he lives on through the love in our hearts, the memories in our minds, and the stories we can tell about the times we spent with him. We love you, Bill, and will miss you forever.

      True to form, Bill did not wish to have a traditional service. He would prefer that you put on some good music, have a cold one, and share some fun stories with each other about the good times you spent with him.

      In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control & Adoption Shelter by visiting www.tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com