The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar 9, 2003
George Miller Chester, a life-long resident and civic leader of Milwaukee and Oconomowoc Lake, was a man well loved for his generous and inclusive heart, as well as his delightful take on life. An avid horseback rider from childhood, he took his last ride only a few days before he died peacefully of cancer complications on March 1st in Scottsdale, Arizona. Born on Knapp Street in the City of Milwaukee on July 15, 1922, he was educated at Milwaukee Country Day School, Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He served in the U.S.Army as a cavalry officer in Europe in World War II and as an artillery officer during the Korean War, where he was awarded the Army Air Medal for heroism during combat operations. A retired partner of Foley & Lardner, in which his grandfather, great grandfather and great uncle were also partners, Mr. Chester was a past President of the Milwaukee United Way, Columbia Hospital, and Milwaukee Country Day School where he presided over its 1964 merger into University School of Milwaukee. Succeeding his father and grandfather, he served for many years on the board and executive committee of Firstar Corporation (now US Bancorp), as a director of T. A. Chapman Company, serving also as longtime President of Wisconsin Securities Company of Delaware and director of The Heil Company, Sandusky International, and as a Trustee of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and a dozen other corporations. He was a member of The Society of the Cincinnati, organized by officers at the end of the American Revolution, representing Col. John Chester of Wethersfield, Conn., an Original Member who played a prominent role during the Battle of Bunker Hill. At the time of his passing, he was also a member of the Milwaukee Club, The University Club of Milwaukee, The University Club of New York, the Town Club and the Oconomowoc Lake Club. Married in Geneva, Switzerland while on active duty during World War II, Chester is survived by his wife of 57 years, Margaret Sheftall Chester, his sister Marion Chester Read of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and two brothers, William M. Chester Jr. of Milwaukee and Tunbridge, VT and John Chapman Chester of Washington, D.C. He leaves behind four children -- George M. Chester, Jr. of Washington, D.C., Laura Chapman Chester of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Cia Chester McKoy of Brookfield, and David W. Chester of Boston, Massachusetts. -- 13 grandchildren, and almost as many horses and llamas. Memorial service to be held March 14 at 4 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church - 914 E. Knapp Street. A celebration of his life will be hosted this summer at a date and location to be announced. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to The United Way of Milwaukee or The Milwaukee Rescue Mission.
Princeton Alumni Weekly Memorial:
George, a lifelong resident of Milwaukee, died in Scottsdale, Ariz., Mar. 9, 2003, of complications from cancer.
At Princeton, where his father was '17 and a brother '46, George majored in politics, was editorial editor of the Daily Princetonian, and was on the crew, polo team, and a member of Colonial Club. He roomed with Jackson Johnson and John Holt Myers. Graduating in 1943, he then saw 3 ½ years of Army service, rising to captain, and was awarded the Army Air Medal; he was recalled for a year for the Korean conflict.
George graduated from Harvard Law School and was a partner in Foley & Lardner, a firm where his grandfather, great-grand-father, and great-uncle had also been partners. He served many directorships, including Northwest Mutual Life, the Heil Co., and Sandusky Int'l., and was president of Wisconsin Securities of Delaware and of T.A. Chapman Co. He was AG chair for '44 and a special gifts solicitor. His memberships included the Society of the Cincinnati and the Oconomowoc Lake Club. He loved the outdoors, hiking, flying, and bobsledding.
George is survived by Margaret, his wife of 57 years; their four children, George '69, Laura, Cia '76, and David; 13 grandchildren, and, as his son George noted, "almost as many horses and llamas."