Edith Chase

Edith Chase was born on 25 November 1924 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her parents were Floyd Cates and Aimee née Fisher Cates. Chase attended Antioch College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 1945. She then earned a Master of Science in chemistry from the University of Minnesota.[1]

Chase moved to in Kent, Ohio in 1958[2] and ended up residing there for over fifty years, during which she was involved in environmental study and protection.[1] Her interest in environmental activism stemmed from reading the book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. She was further galvanized when the Cuyahoga River caught fire in June 1969.[3] In 1970, she was a founding member of the Kent Environmental Council.[1] In 1982, she was a founding member of the Ohio Coastal Resource Management Project.[4] She was also one of the first members of the Coastal Resources Advisory Council. She was a contributing author to reports on hydrology published by the United States Geological Survey.[1]

Chase served as president of the League of Women Voters of Kent from 1965 to 1967.[5]

In 1992, Chase was inducted into the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Hall of Fame.[6] A park in Franklin Township, Portage County, Ohio was named Chase Park in honor of Chase and her husband, with the county Trustees describing her as a "respected member of this community and a valuable asset to all of the residents of Franklin Township".[7] In 2014, Chase received the Outstanding Environmental Leader Award from the Burning River Foundation.[4]

In 2014 at age 90, Chase moved to Ithaca, New York to be closer to her daughter. The move was precipitated by her declining health.[2] She died on 13 June 2017 at the age of 92.[1]

While working at the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. in New Jersey, Edith Cates met Richard Chase, whom she married. Together they had two children.[1]