Obituary for Earle Norvil (Norve) Chew
Earle Norvil (Norve) Chew died peacefully on March 6, 2022, at his home in Evergreen, Colorado. Norve was born on March 2, 1929, in Olean, NY to Albert Earle and Ellen Olive Norton Chew.
After graduating from Olean High School in 1947, Norve joined the phone company as a lineman. He retired in 1985 as an engineer. In 1948 he married Barbara Krompart. They had eight children: Deborah Rotman (Sam), Mesa, AZ; Richard Chew (Carol), Allegany, NY; Janet Chew (Andy Dickson), Jamestown, NY; Mark Chew (Elaine), Cincinnati, OH; Michael Chew, Olean, NY; Barbara Brady (Jim), Sanibel Island, FL; Barton Chew, Cold Spring, NY; and Charlotte Chew, Nashville, TN.
In 1995 he married Anne Ambuske Wingard.
He is survived by his wife Anne, eight children, stepdaughter Kate Starick (Chip), 18 grandchildren (Simeon Rotman, Anna Rotman, Sarah Parker, Benjamin Chew, Thomas Chew, Ashley Griffith, Charles Chew, Julianne Roulo, Alexandra Brady, Christopher Brady, Eleanor Chew, Sam Chew, Harrison Sturm, Hayden Sturm, Isabella Sturm, and his Colorado grandkids Tegan Starick, Kira Starick and Bode Starick) and 19 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his niece Barbara Porro and grandniece Audrey Baker. He leaves behind his 13-year-old Goldendoodle, Jasper. He was preceded in death by his parents, older sister Audrey Porro, nephews James Porro, Gary Porro, and stepson Gordon Wingard.
Prior to moving to his beloved adopted state of Colorado, Norve was a member of the Trinity Methodist Church on Nineth Street in Olean where he sang in the choir. He was also involved with the SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) for many years. In addition, he was very active in the local amateur theatre company, The Village Players and appeared in productions of Annie, Inherit the Wind, The Drunkard’s Fate, Little Shop of Horrors, and Guy & Dolls. He was passionate about classical music and attended the Colorado Symphony regularly. Norve enjoyed camping with the family, hiking on the hill and mowing at the Camp in Hinsdale and yearly canoe trips to Algonquin with his buddies. He also traveled extensively throughout the US and Europe.
Norve had a lifelong interest in aviation, earning his pilot’s license and owning a plane for several years. His many hobbies were baking bread, making strawberry jam and scrapple among other family favorites. Preparing breakfast was his specialty, and he also had a talent for finding the best breakfast joints wherever he was in the world. He enjoyed repairing, maintaining, and remodeling the family home on Bishop Street, and would often lend his talents to his children’s home renovations, as well. He was self-taught and became proficient as a Carpenter, Cabinetmaker, Plumber, Electrician, Roofer and Remodeler.
Most importantly, Norve was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was very funny, witty, and enjoyed making people laugh. He managed to keep his humor till the very end.
A memorial service will be held in Evergreen on Monday, March 28 and again this summer at the Maplehurst Cemetery in Hinsdale, NY where he will be laid to rest near his parents. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Mount Evans Home Healthcare and Hospice at 3081 Bergan Peak Drive, Evergreen, CO 80439.
After graduating from Olean High School in 1947, Norve joined the phone company as a lineman. He retired in 1985 as an engineer. In 1948 he married Barbara Krompart. They had eight children: Deborah Rotman (Sam), Mesa, AZ; Richard Chew (Carol), Allegany, NY; Janet Chew (Andy Dickson), Jamestown, NY; Mark Chew (Elaine), Cincinnati, OH; Michael Chew, Olean, NY; Barbara Brady (Jim), Sanibel Island, FL; Barton Chew, Cold Spring, NY; and Charlotte Chew, Nashville, TN.
In 1995 he married Anne Ambuske Wingard.
He is survived by his wife Anne, eight children, stepdaughter Kate Starick (Chip), 18 grandchildren (Simeon Rotman, Anna Rotman, Sarah Parker, Benjamin Chew, Thomas Chew, Ashley Griffith, Charles Chew, Julianne Roulo, Alexandra Brady, Christopher Brady, Eleanor Chew, Sam Chew, Harrison Sturm, Hayden Sturm, Isabella Sturm, and his Colorado grandkids Tegan Starick, Kira Starick and Bode Starick) and 19 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his niece Barbara Porro and grandniece Audrey Baker. He leaves behind his 13-year-old Goldendoodle, Jasper. He was preceded in death by his parents, older sister Audrey Porro, nephews James Porro, Gary Porro, and stepson Gordon Wingard.
Prior to moving to his beloved adopted state of Colorado, Norve was a member of the Trinity Methodist Church on Nineth Street in Olean where he sang in the choir. He was also involved with the SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) for many years. In addition, he was very active in the local amateur theatre company, The Village Players and appeared in productions of Annie, Inherit the Wind, The Drunkard’s Fate, Little Shop of Horrors, and Guy & Dolls. He was passionate about classical music and attended the Colorado Symphony regularly. Norve enjoyed camping with the family, hiking on the hill and mowing at the Camp in Hinsdale and yearly canoe trips to Algonquin with his buddies. He also traveled extensively throughout the US and Europe.
Norve had a lifelong interest in aviation, earning his pilot’s license and owning a plane for several years. His many hobbies were baking bread, making strawberry jam and scrapple among other family favorites. Preparing breakfast was his specialty, and he also had a talent for finding the best breakfast joints wherever he was in the world. He enjoyed repairing, maintaining, and remodeling the family home on Bishop Street, and would often lend his talents to his children’s home renovations, as well. He was self-taught and became proficient as a Carpenter, Cabinetmaker, Plumber, Electrician, Roofer and Remodeler.
Most importantly, Norve was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was very funny, witty, and enjoyed making people laugh. He managed to keep his humor till the very end.
A memorial service will be held in Evergreen on Monday, March 28 and again this summer at the Maplehurst Cemetery in Hinsdale, NY where he will be laid to rest near his parents. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Mount Evans Home Healthcare and Hospice at 3081 Bergan Peak Drive, Evergreen, CO 80439.