David Edward Chard
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David E. Chard, 79, of Fairfield, Connecticut, died on March 30, 2021 from injuries resulting from an accidental fall the previous month. He was surrounded by his loving family and faithful dog, Piper, upon his peaceful passing at Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart, Florida.
Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, David grew up in nearby Roselle with older brother, John, and younger sister, Susan. His father, Roland T. Chard, was a senior administrator at the National State Bank of Elizabeth, NJ. His mother, Kathleen, was a classical pianist and vocalist who studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Both were originally from Falmouth, Cornwall, England.
As a child, David walked to school every day with his best friend of 74 years, Bill Lindstrum. Musical like his mother, he played the piano and sang in the church choir. At Abraham Clark High School, he was the newspaper's Editor-in-Chief and a National Merit Scholar. David was obsessed with cars, frequently enlisting Susan to record each Cadillac Coupe Deville and Ford Skyliner that drove by their front porch in a notebook.
David graduated from University of Rochester with a BA in English. He enjoyed performing all over the country in the Yellowjackets, the school's glee club. His fondest college memories, however, involved spending time with his brother John, who was simultaneously completing his medical residency at Strong Memorial Hospital, and John's wife Nancy, a fellow Roselle native and future Vermont State Senator.
David went on to American University to earn an MBA in Finance. He followed his father's career as a banker, working first as a loan officer for Chemical Bank, and then for Citibank in New York City. With a financial career spanning over 40 years, David was a well respected and highly regarded leader in the private banking industry, specializing in the banking needs of prominent law firms. His beloved work friends remember David as loyal and caring, and as a mentor who went out of his way to help others reach their goals.
He met and married the love of his life, Jean, in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1979. An avid boater, he and Jean had many adventures on his 36 foot Sport Fisherman. After their first daughter learned to crawl on the boat, they decided to settle on the Connecticut coast, in Norwalk and then in Fairfield, where they raised three daughters.
He loved dogs, desserts, and making his nieces and granddaughters laugh. Most of all, he loved his wife and daughters. His love and patience knew no boundaries, was all encompassing and without conditions. Their love for him was the same in return.
David was a kind and gentle man. He was interested in others and deeply invested in relationships. He was a great storyteller, and an even better listener. Because of this, he found friends everywhere.
David will be greatly missed by his three daughters, son-in-law, two granddaughters, his brother and sister, many nieces, nephews, and in-laws, dear friends, and extended family in Cornwall and Newcastle, England.