Marblehead

Chester M. "Chet" Sawtelle, a resident of Marblehead and benefactor to organizations and philanthropies across the North Shore, died this past weekend after a short illness. He was 97 years old.

Born in Englewood, N.J., the son of the late Edmond Monroe and Julia
(Worthington) Sawtelle, he was the husband of the late Harriet (Alden)
Sawtelle.

As a businessman, politician and community leader, Mr. Sawtelle's
involvement in his hometown as well as a number of neighboring North Shore
communities and their causes over the past 65 years benefited many.
After graduating from Union College and serving in the Coast Guard reserve
that patrolled the New England coast on lookout for enemy submarines in
World War II, Mr. Sawtelle helped spearhead other war drives including the
Massachusetts War Finance Committee, the Greater Boston War Fund, the local
American Red Cross and serving as chairman of Marblehead-Salem Community
Fund Association and Veterans Service Committee, among others.
After working as a field engineer for the Worthington Company, Mr. Sawtelle
founded Sawtelle Brothers in Swampscott, a well known business that catered
to the use of heavy equipment in lawn care maintenance of golf courses and
estates throughout New England. Later, he would be recognized by his
profession with the first Massachusetts Recreation & Park Society
Humanitarian Award and life memberships in the Turf Equipment Dealers
Association of America and the New England Golf Superintentent's
Association. Mr. Sawtelle sold Sawtelle Brothers in the early 1980s and
retired.

After the war, Mr. Sawtelle furthered his community involvement as a
director of Children's Hospital in Boston, the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children, the Marblehead Taxpayers Association and as president
of the Marblehead YMCA.
It was also during this time that, along with fellow Marblehead resident
William Sleigh and others, he led a group that purchased Childrens Island
for the purposes of day camp facilities during the years that "Y" finances
were tight and he often transported his own equipment to the island to
assure maintenance for the offshore property by organizing mowing parties.
Shortly thereafter a pool also was constructed at the camp and named in his
and his wife, Harriet's, honor and he was elected an honorary life director.
Mr. Sawtelle's political life included six years of election to the
Marblehead Board of Selectmen in the early 1960s and active participation in
the town Republican Committee.
Following those years, Mr. Sawtelle was elected a corporator, then trustee
of Salem Hospital and a director of its Development Committee and chairman
of its Second Century Fund, before being named an honorary lifetime trustee.

He also was a life member of the House of Seven Gables Settlement and a Life
Fellow of the Peabody-Essex Museum, both in Salem.
Selectmen honored him with "Chet Sawtelle Day" when he received the Person
of the Year award in 1991 by the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Sawtelle also held memberships or lifetime memberships in the Gut 'n
Feathers Club, a badminton club he help found as well as where he served as
president and received the Brad Smith Memorial Award, the Eastern and Boston
Yacht Clubs, Tedesco Country Club, the Historical Society and the Arts
Association, all in Marblehead, as well as the Society Colonial Wars, Sons
of the American Revolution and Mystic Seaport.
During his retirement Mr. Sawtelle enjoyed his pet Welsh Corgis, tending to
the immaculately landscaped grounds of his waterfront home, tennis and
cribbage with friends.

He is survived by a daughter, Julia Clough of York, ME. and Santa Fe, N.M
and Mr. Sawtelle was predeceased by a son, Donald A. Sawtelle. He also is
survived by his granddaughter Michelle A. Marean and her husband, Gerry
Runte and great-grandchildren Emma A. and Cameron G. Runte all of Santa Fe,
N.M. and a grandson, G. Cameron Marean and his wife, Pamela, of Fairhaven,
MA.

Private memorial and internment arrangements by the Murphy Funeral Home, 85
Federal St., Salem, MA. Those who wish may make a memorial contribution to
the Marblehead-Swampscott Y.M.C.A., 94 Pleasant St., Marblehead, MA. 01945.
For an online guest book, please visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com