Henry Nute Chaffee, 83, Summered in Edgartown

Henry Nute Chaffee of Vero Beach, Fla., and Edgartown died on Dec. 9 at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was 83 years old.

Born in Providence, R.I., on June 2, 1921, he was the son of Alice (Nute) and Thomas Knowlton Chaffee. He graduated from Moses Brown School in Providence and attended Brown University, which he left to take over his father's business, the Thomas K. Chaffee Company in Providence, of which he was president for 40 years.

Mr. Chaffee was a member of the United States Seniors Golf Association, the Riomar Country Club and the Quail Valley Golf Club, both in Vero Beach, Fla., and the Edgartown Yacht Club, the Edgartown Golf Club and the Edgartown Reading Room.

He was an avid gardener and specialized in raising roses in his later years. Henry had a keen sense of humor and was particularly well known for his vast repertoire of limericks.

Henry grew up in Providence, where he lived until he moved to Barrington to raise his family. In 1973 he moved to the east side of Providence after marrying Doro Keeler. During the 1970s and 1980s he spent his winter weekends at the house he built in Kearsarge, N.H., skiing with his friends and family. After his retirement in 1980, he and Doro moved to Vero Beach where they have wintered for the past 20 years. In 1982 they built Job's Neck Cove, their house on Edgartown Great Pond, where they spent 22 summers.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Dorothy Flynn Chaffee, two sons, Steven H., and Richard T., both of Barrington, R.I., and a daughter, Deborah C. Wall of Boulder City, Nev.; stepchildren Brad Keeler, Wendy Keeler, and Elizabeth Millan; 10 grandchildren and eight step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother Knowlton in 2001. There will be a private service in Edgartown on Sunday, Dec. 12 at noon, immediately followed by a reception at the Edgartown Yacht Club, to which friends and family are invited.

In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that contributions be made to the Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, P.O. Box 1747, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, the Indian River Memorial Hospital, 1000 36th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.