Nathaniel Chaffin

Nathaniel Chaffin of Newton passed away on Thursday, December 4th.

He was 91 years old. He was predeceased by his extraordinary wife Peggy in January of 2012. He is survived by his six loving children, Elizabeth Chaffin, Rachel Chaffin, Sarah Chaffin and her husband, Lino, Joshua Chaffin and his wife, Maisie, Jessica Chaffin and her husband, Rolin, and Jonathan Chaffin, as well as his adoring grandchildren, Issac, Phoebe, Gelsomina and Lou.

He is also survived by his brothers, Daniel Chaffin, of San Rafael, California, and Richard Chaffin, of Needham, and his dear companion, Arlene Bernstein of Newton.

Nate, as he was known, for years worked in the family optical business alongside his father, Ira, and brother, Dick. He was a lover of all things New England - from Marblehead to Mount Washington - played a million squash matches at the Harvard Club and consumed an equivalent number of gin and tonics in the locker room bar there with his many, many friends. He also loved history, canoeing, cross-country skiing, golden retrievers and peanut butter cups.

A funeral will be held on Monday, December 8th, at 10 a.m. at Temple Emanuel in Newton. Interment will take place following the services at Adath Jeshurun Cemetery. Shiva will be held at the home of Nathaniel and Peggy Chaffin, Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Nate’s memory can be made to The Putney School online or 418 Houghton Brook Road Putney, VT 05346 or to the MGH Cancer Center in Peggy’s name.