Donald Stanley Chakas
August 29, 1930 - November 11, 2015
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Donald Stanley Chakas
August 29, 1930 - November 11, 2015
Obituary
Donald S. Chakas passed away November 11, 2015. He was born in St Charles, IL. on August 29, 1930 to Stanley and Edith Chakas.
Donald joined Caterpillar in 1952 as a “hooker” on a boom crane at Joliet, IL. He went to night school in transportation and regulatory law and transferred to General Offices in Peoria, IL. He became the Supervisor of International Distribution and worked on the Industry side of developing containerization for intermodal distribution. Donald was an appointed member of “International Standards Organization” working with ocean carriers. He also was appointed to their steering committee of the Containerization and Intermodal Institute. Later served as President and then Chairman of that organization and remained on the Board of Directors until 1992.
In 1969, he joined a consortium made up of Cunard/Port Line, Blue Star Line, Ellermann Lines and the Australian National Line to build and operate container ships in the North American/Australia & New Zealand trades. A new company was formed, “Associated Container Transportation, operating as Pacific America Container Express (PACE Line) which was named by daughter, Patty. Donald was also appointed Executive Vice President and General Manager in 1982, with offices in the World Trade Center in New York. ACT operated 8 owned vessels, plus additional charters in this trade. Donald retired in 1991 and moved to Bellingham, WA.
Donald was strong willed, generous, intelligent, and engaging. He enjoyed going for drives and checking the Bellingham Harbor for ships, attending theatre/symphony events, cheering on his favorite teams, going on family outings, sharing stories, doting on his great grandchildren, giving active support to all he knew, reminiscing about his late wife Dolly, fishing, sharing good food with his friends and family. He was also very up-to-date, largely due to his passion for the stock market and daily news.
Don will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He is survived by son-in-law Glendon Scott and wife Marilyn McGarry; grandchildren Stewart Scott and wife Angela Polifroni, Greg Scott and wife Christy Scott, Danny Scott and wife Chrissy Ingram, and Jessica Scott; great grandchildren Jacob Scott and Isabel Scott. He was preceded in death by his wife Dolly Chakas; daughter Patricia Ann Scott; siblings Anne Chesney Smith and Marion Chesney.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 2:00 pm at Spring Creek, 223 E. Bakerview Rd, Bellingham, WA. In lieu of flowers, donations may go to the local Diabetes Society, MS Society or charity of your choice.
Celebration Of Life
- Date & Time: January 1, 1970 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Spring Creek Assisted Living
- Location: 223 E Bakerview Dr Bellingham, WA 98226 - (Get Directions)
16 responses to Donald Stanley Chakas
Myra and George Culhane says:
November 11, 2015
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Such sad news to hear about Don’s passing. He was a good neighbor when he and Dolly lived in Chatham Twp. Our friendship extended over 40 years and during that time he was the best. Always thoughtful, generous,and considerate, Don loved to arrange a special trip or get-together.
God bless all your family as you mourn the death of your beloved “Don”. We will all miss his enthusiasm, optimism and his smile.
Fondly, Myra (Rosselet) and George Culhane
Kathleen Truitt says:
November 11, 2015
Cousin Don will be truly missed!
I have so many wonderful memories of time spent with Dolly, Patty, and Don going back to my early childhood when they lived in Plainfield. I particularly appreciated how wonderfully he treated my mother (Dolly’s cousin Mary) the many times she visited in Washington. Even after she could no longer travel, Don always kept her up to date on her favorite artwork, usually by sending her a calendar or card. We continued to keep in touch after her death, and I enjoyed his stories of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Praying for peace, comfort, and wonderful memories for all who loved Don!
Kathy Geier says:
November 11, 2015
Dear Family of my friend Don Chakas, I got to know Don in the caring for his nephew Bud Henning at Parkview Health Center. Bud spent the last 12 years of his life there. I was his nurse, and also his surrogate mother figure. It allowed me to give him the human touch I felt he needed. He was loved by the staff, and well cared for by them. Tears were shed when he died, but also relief for the end of his terrible struggle with Huntingtons disease. My daughter and I went to St Charles to the family plot when Bud’s cremains were placed in the family plot, because he was “my boy”. On his trips to Wisconsin, Don enjoyed having dinner with my husband and myself at the Roxy, where he always ordered perch. We enjoyed getting to know Stewart on one visit, and Danny on another. We have fond memories of both their visits! His visits were always anticipated by Bud and the staff, because he was so positive and vital.
Don kept inviting Dennis and myself to come to Washington, so finally we did. We took the train to Seattle, took a car trip around the peninsula, and then met up with Don back in Seattle, and up to Bellingham with him. He made sure we were treated well, and showed us a lot of the area including taking the ferry to Lummi Is. We had a most memorable time together. Later, Dennis had to fly up to Victoria to work on a gulfstream jet, and he took the ferry and met Don for dinner. Don has continued to stay in touch with us through emails, so when the one came notifying us of his death, we were deeply saddened for OUR loss. I was hoping to head out that way once more as part of a road trip I hope to take next year, but now that chance is gone. My life is richer for having known him. His journey here is over, but he will not be forgotten. He loved all of you and was very proud of you. He was grateful for all the love and support you all showed him also. Sincerely, Kathy
Christopher Cullen says:
November 11, 2015
As the chief executive of ACT/PACE Line in Australia I had a close but remote working relationship with Don for over twenty years. He was a very capable executive with exceptional drive and knowledge of containerisation international transportation regulation. On a personal note I appreciated his friendship. sense of humour and integrity. On this sad occasion, please pass my sympathy and condolences to his family.
Diane Wales Armstrong says:
November 11, 2015
I am so sad that Don is gone and we didn’t get to say goodbye. My last email to him must have come after he went to hospital, and now it seems like a silly one, one that assumed we’d all live forever.
Don and I were classmates in St. Charles but really didn’t know one another. He was west side and was east and then I went away after two years in high school.
I really never went back until the 50th reunion of the class, and from then on, Don and I were friends in fun. He was able to visit me in California (and I intended to visit him in his lovely home but never managed it) and when he did come down to California, we went on the town in Donald style. We both loved eating and jazz, so…imagine! My friends here thought he was a terrific fellow.
I’ve learned so much about your family from Don, all of you, son in law and new wife, grandsons and -daughter, and the precious great grands, were his rod and his staff, almost literally. I hope you are peaceful, knowing that his life was lived to the fullest in spite of all he had to bear. There can’t be anyone than he who could make such a satisfying and joy-filled life out of the sorrows he was handed. I thought he was amazing. Please tell him Goodbye from me, DIane.