Robert Chase

Robert Reynolds Chase died on Monday, October 20, 2025. Born in Attleboro, MA in 1948, Robert attended Phillips Exeter Academy, Dartmouth College, and earned his J.D. at Duke Law School. It was at Duke where he met his beloved wife, Margaret.

For over 40 years he was a civilian attorney for the United States Army specializing in contract and procurement law. He retired as Chief Counsel of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in 2016. A passionate reader, writer, and lover of stories, Robert published three science fiction novels: The Game of Fox and Lion (1986), Shapers (1989) and Crucible (1991), as well as over 35 shorter speculative fiction pieces in publications including Analog Science Fiction and Fantasy & Science Fiction. In addition, a non- fiction article “Science Friction” was published in the journal First Things. His final published story was “Lost Recall,” published in the September 2024 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction.

A devotee of music, Robert sang as a tenor in the St. John the Baptist Catholic Community choir. His musical tastes reflected a love of classical, jazz, and indulging the modern rock influences of his children. He was an amateur saber and foil fencer, enjoyed tennis, and road cycling. He inherited a love for cross-country road trips from his father and eagerly passed that love to his children. Later travels spanned Alaska, Ireland, Macchu Pichu, and the Galápagos Islands.

In addition to Margaret, Robert is survived by his three children: Donovan (Rachael), Christine, and Robert M. Chase (Julie). A funeral mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Silver Spring, MD at 11AM on December 4, 2025, with a visitation at 10AM.