Obituary for Malcolm Greene Chace
Malcolm Greene Chace, a leading businessman and philanthropist who enthusiastically embraced family, friends and community, died on Thursday, June 23, 2011. He was 76.
Mr. Chace died surrounded by family at the Massachusetts General Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for glioblastoma.
Malcolm G. Chace “Kim” was born in Providence, RI on October 26, 1934, the son of the late Malcolm G. Chace, Jr. and Beatrice (“Happy”) Oenslager Chace. Providence was his home for the majority of his life. He married Elizabeth Zopfi Saltonstall on February 8, 1975, in Providence.
Kim attended The Gordon School, Providence, RI and graduated from The Brooks School, North Andover, MA (1952) and Yale University, New Haven, CT (1956). After graduation, he fulfilled his military obligation with the US Army serving as a Private in Germany which provided him with fodder to regale many a gathering with tales of his tour de force as a bumbling tank mechanic.
The grounding to Mr. Chace’s long and successful career in business and as a private investor began at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. He returned to Providence in 1967 to participate in the family businesses and investments including President of Mossberg Industries in Cumberland, RI. In 1996 he founded Bank RI where he remained as Chairman of the Board. In 1992 Kim succeeded his father on the board of Berkshire Hathaway, which he served on until 2007. One of his proudest achievements was the development of Dromoland Castle in Newmarket on Fergus, Ireland as an internationally acclaimed hotel.
Kim’s dedication to family and community was filled with contagious enthusiasm and energy. He generously gave his time and support to many community organizations and served as a trustee on several Board of Directors, including Women and Infants Hospital, Trinity Repertory, Brooks School and The Gordon School among others. His civic efforts were recognized by the awards conferred to him, which include the Providence Renaissance Award, 2002 United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award, and the 1996 Helm Award. In recognition of his dedication to Rhode Island education, he received honorary degrees from Brown University, Bryant University and Johnson and Wales University.
One of Mr. Chace’s proudest moments in support of the arts in Providence was the 2009 opening of The Rhode Island School of Design Chace Center, which he jointly endowed with his two sisters, Jane Chace Carroll and Eliot Chace Nolen.
While known for his philanthropy, Kim is remembered by his family and friends for his support, love, prodigious intellect, voracious reading and rapier-like wit. His greatest legacy, however, is a large and loving family.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Zopfi Chace; sisters Jane Chace Carroll and Eliot Chace Nolen both of Manhattan; daughter, Elizabeth (John) Sundell of Nantucket, MA; son, Malcolm (Erin) Chace Jr. of Providence, RI; daughter, Barbara (Tony) Ulehla of Wilton, CT; step-daughter, Joanna Saltonstall (Larry Farwell); step-son, William (Katherine) Saltonstall of Hingham, MA; step-son, Thomas (Stephanie) Saltonstall; step-daughter, Julia (Bradford) Haley; and, 15 grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Chace Fund, 121 South Main Street, 4th Floor, Providence, RI 02903 from which funds will be distributed to community organizations with which Mr. Chace was deeply involved. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, JULY 14th , at 11am in Grace Church, Westminster St., Providence.
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Mr. Chace died surrounded by family at the Massachusetts General Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for glioblastoma.
Malcolm G. Chace “Kim” was born in Providence, RI on October 26, 1934, the son of the late Malcolm G. Chace, Jr. and Beatrice (“Happy”) Oenslager Chace. Providence was his home for the majority of his life. He married Elizabeth Zopfi Saltonstall on February 8, 1975, in Providence.
Kim attended The Gordon School, Providence, RI and graduated from The Brooks School, North Andover, MA (1952) and Yale University, New Haven, CT (1956). After graduation, he fulfilled his military obligation with the US Army serving as a Private in Germany which provided him with fodder to regale many a gathering with tales of his tour de force as a bumbling tank mechanic.
The grounding to Mr. Chace’s long and successful career in business and as a private investor began at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. He returned to Providence in 1967 to participate in the family businesses and investments including President of Mossberg Industries in Cumberland, RI. In 1996 he founded Bank RI where he remained as Chairman of the Board. In 1992 Kim succeeded his father on the board of Berkshire Hathaway, which he served on until 2007. One of his proudest achievements was the development of Dromoland Castle in Newmarket on Fergus, Ireland as an internationally acclaimed hotel.
Kim’s dedication to family and community was filled with contagious enthusiasm and energy. He generously gave his time and support to many community organizations and served as a trustee on several Board of Directors, including Women and Infants Hospital, Trinity Repertory, Brooks School and The Gordon School among others. His civic efforts were recognized by the awards conferred to him, which include the Providence Renaissance Award, 2002 United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award, and the 1996 Helm Award. In recognition of his dedication to Rhode Island education, he received honorary degrees from Brown University, Bryant University and Johnson and Wales University.
One of Mr. Chace’s proudest moments in support of the arts in Providence was the 2009 opening of The Rhode Island School of Design Chace Center, which he jointly endowed with his two sisters, Jane Chace Carroll and Eliot Chace Nolen.
While known for his philanthropy, Kim is remembered by his family and friends for his support, love, prodigious intellect, voracious reading and rapier-like wit. His greatest legacy, however, is a large and loving family.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Zopfi Chace; sisters Jane Chace Carroll and Eliot Chace Nolen both of Manhattan; daughter, Elizabeth (John) Sundell of Nantucket, MA; son, Malcolm (Erin) Chace Jr. of Providence, RI; daughter, Barbara (Tony) Ulehla of Wilton, CT; step-daughter, Joanna Saltonstall (Larry Farwell); step-son, William (Katherine) Saltonstall of Hingham, MA; step-son, Thomas (Stephanie) Saltonstall; step-daughter, Julia (Bradford) Haley; and, 15 grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Chace Fund, 121 South Main Street, 4th Floor, Providence, RI 02903 from which funds will be distributed to community organizations with which Mr. Chace was deeply involved. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, JULY 14th , at 11am in Grace Church, Westminster St., Providence.
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