Charles “Chuck” Peter DeGrace

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Charles “Chuck” Peter DeGrace, 76, died peacefully after a 10-year cancer battle in his home in Portland, Oregon on November 12, 2019. Chuck is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kathy, his daughters Laura DeGrace and Lisa DeGrace, and son-in-law Stephen Miller, all of Oregon. He is also survived by his brother, Frank DeGrace (Nancy) of Bowie, Maryland, niece Kristen DeGrace of Maryland, nephew Michael DeGrace of Arizona, and many cousins.

Chuck grew up in Cortland, N.Y., the son of Mary and Peter DeGrace (deceased). He graduated from Cortland High School and Clarkson College in electrical engineering. After college, he served in the Air National Guard. Chuck had a distinguished 40-year career in computer systems and management. During his 18 years in Rhode Island, he worked for Providence Washington Insurance Company and Browne & Sharpe. He was intricately involved in Kathy's bookstore, Twice Told Tales in Pawtuxet Village, Cranston. Later, he worked 10 years for the New Hampshire Department of Safety and eventually he and Kathy retired to their beloved Portland, Maine.

Throughout the years living in the mid-Atlantic and New England states, Chuck volunteered with the Boy Scouts, school PTA, a town planning board, Meals on Wheels, and the Project Feed Food Pantry. Chuck loved New England (especially Maine), the ocean, jazz, trivia, reading, intricate math and word puzzles, and the New England Patriots. He was a gourmet cook. He and Kathy were travel vagabonds to Puerto Rico, 49 states, 20-some countries and many Caribbean islands.

A celebration of his life will be held in upstate New York, where he grew up. His body was donated, at his request, to medical research. His ashes will be scattered in Maine.

Donations in his memory can be made to the OHSU Cancer Research Foundation, P.O. Box 29017, Portland, OR 97216 or Project Feed, 202 Woodford St., Portland, ME 04103. And please donate blood, the gift of life if you possibly can.