Chester J. Gould

RICHFIELD SPRINGS – Chester J. Gould, age 88, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at his home on Canadarago Lake surrounded by his loving family.  Son of the late Chester and Sarah Sterling Gould, Chet was born on January 28, 1935 in Paterson, New Jersey.  He was raised and spent most of his life in New Jersey.

After high school, Chet served in the United States Army, being stationed in Germany for two years.  He later attended Fairleigh Dickinson University to obtain an MBA.  On June 6, 1959 Chet married the former Elsie R. Schubert and raised a loving family during their 64 years of marriage.  For the past twenty years during his retirement Chet worked part-time at Cooley's Stonehouse Tavern, his son's pub in Cooperstown, where "Chatty Chet" loved to socialize.

Chet and his family first discovered the enchantment of Leatherstocking country by going camping for many years at Shadow Brook campground beginning in 1971.  Chet and his wife then bought a second home on Canadarago Lake in 1986, where they permanently retired in 2002 from their home in North Haledon, New Jersey.

In his free time, Chet enjoyed the outdoors.  He loved skiing, speed skating, curling, skeet shooting, turkey hunting, fishing, captaining the family pontoon boat on the lake and, of course, golfing.  And ever since he was a young boy, Chet, aka "Ocean Boy," loved nothing more than being at the Jersey shore in Wildwood Crest and masterfully riding the waves by bodysurfing.  Chet was a devoted family man and his circle of friends was vast.  Over the years he touched the lives of many and his memory will always be cherished.

Surviving besides his wife Elsie are two sons, Jeff and his wife Edina of Verona, New Jersey, Tim and his partner Sarah of Fly Creek, a daughter Tracy of Chester, New Jersey, and three grandchildren, Ryan, Erin and Brendan.  A celebration of life to honor Chet's legacy will take place at a later date.