The Honorable John Saunders Chase Jr., the oldest son of Drucie and John Saunders Chase, passed away on Jan. 2. Although not a University of Texas alumnus like his father, Mr. Chase has been supportive of the university and the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement along with his mother and siblings, Saundria Chase Gray and Anthony Chase.

“Many in our division have been honored to spend time with the Chase family over the past year as we have made plans to move the Center for Community Engagement into a building designed by and to be named for John Chase Sr. We would like to offer our condolences to the Chase family on the loss of an outstanding son, husband, stepfather, brother and uncle,” said Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement Leonard N. Moore. “He left a great mark on the City of Houston as well through his involvement in politics and as a judge.”

Mr. Chase was a graduate of Strake Jesuit Preparatory College, Rice University, and the University of Houston Law Center.  He had his own law practice for a time and served as a municipal judge for the City of Houston for many years. At the time of his death, he was the administration manager for Security and Emergency Preparedness at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport and served as adjunct professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

A celebration of life for Mr. Chase will be held at noon on January 8 at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church (500 Clay St., Houston, Texas). For more information about Mr. Chase’s life and the services to be held in his honor, please see his obituary in the Houston Chronicle.