Obituary of Ralph R. Chase Jr.

     Ralph R Chase Jr., 81, of Old Forge, passed into eternal life on Sunday and into the arms of his savior, Jesus. He was surrounded by his loved ones and his beloved wife, Ethel Ann Jackovino Chase, his lifelong companion of 57 years.

     Born in 1942, he was the son of the late Ralph Chase Sr. and Mary Dunn Chase. Ralph was raised in Old Forge, graduating from Wyoming Seminary, Scranton Prep and the University of Scranton, with a degree in accounting. While at Scranton Prep and The University of Scranton, Ralph captained the golf team and was the first golf athlete to be named as “Athlete of the Week” in 1962. Ralph was an exceptional long driver of the golf ball and won numerous tournaments at the Scranton Country Club, Fox Hill Country Club, and many more. 

     Ralph served with the 111^th Military Air Transport unit of the PA Air National Guard in Willow Grove, PA from 1966 to 1971 and is a current member of American Legion Post 513, Old Forge. 

     Ralph was an agent with the IRS in Philadelphia and a public accountant partner with his father Ralph Sr. for 25 years. He served as Chairman of the Lackawanna County Board of Tax Assessment and Appeals for 12 years. Later in his work career, Ralph managed the industrial development for the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce, Manager at USF&G Insurance Company as well as Holly Label Company.  His greatest professional accomplishment was being named as the Director of the PA State Workers Insurance Fund (SWIF) and managed what was referred to as the “golden age” for the cooperation between the labor force and management.  Towards the end of his career, Ralph was a consultant with the Lackawanna County Family Court's system working under the tenure of President Judge Chester Harhut. He was also an operating trustee of the DeFazio trucking company since 1984. He was well known throughout his life and work for his calm, kind nature and treating others with dignity and respect. 

     To Ralph, faith and family was everything.  He was blessed to have many family members close by during his entire life.  He was a practicing Roman Catholic and a current member of the Nativity of Our Lord Church, Duryea.  In his younger years, he was a member of St. Mary’s Church, Old Forge.

     In addition to his beloved wife, Ethel, Ralph is survived by his son, Adam and wife Sharon together with grandsons Adam and Andrew; his daughter Amanda and granddaughters Alexis, Lana and Olivia; great-grand-daughter Amaya; daughter Lauren and husband Tom Kristunas, granddaughter Emma. Ralph is also survived by his beloved sister, Lana Chase, of Atlanta, GA and brother-in-law, Frank Jackovino of Beverly Hills, Florida.     

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Ralph’s honor on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Nativity of Our Lord Church, 127 Stephenson Street, Duryea.  Interment Holy Cross Cemetery, Old Forge.

     Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects to Ralph at the Nativity of Our Lord Church, Duryea, on Friday morning 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. 

     Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Louis V. Ciuccio Funeral Home, 145 Moosic Road, Old Forge.  To leave an online condolence or for directions, please visit the funeral home’s web site at:  ciucciofuneralhome.com

    Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinsonfoundation.org