David Blackshear Hamilton Chaffe III

David Blackshear Hamilton Chaffe III (Black) a prominent New Orleans business and social figure, died peacefully at home on August 22, 2026. Mr. Chaffe was born and lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, for 86 years until his retirement to his home in DeLisle, Mississippi in 2019. He was preceded in death by his father David Blackshear Hamilton Chaffe, Jr., his mother Enola Inez Verlander Chaffe, his sister Martha McIlwaine Chaffe Weese, and his brother John Francis Coleman Chaffe. He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Nancy Rawlins McIver Chaffe; their four children, Mary Hamilton Chaffe (the late Alan) Brooks, David Blackshear Hamilton Chaffe IV (Stephanie), William Bryan McIver Chaffe (Mary), and Anne McIlwaine Chaffe (Tedrowe) Eichin; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Chaffe graduated from Isidore Newman School in 1951 and attended Tulane University on a U. S. Navy scholarship. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy at his graduation in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at Tulane, Mr Chaffe was a member of the Kappa Alpha order and was elected to membership in Tau Beta Pi (engineering), Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership), and Kappa Delta Phi (recognizing outstanding student leadership, loyalty, and service to Tulane).

Following three years of service on active duty in the United States Navy, Mr. Chaffe returned to New Orleans to work for one year at Southern States Equipment Co., Inc., and then entered the securities business as a Registered Representative at Kohlmeyer & Company. In 1963 Mr. Chaffe became a founding member and president of Viguerie, Hayne & Chaffe, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange member firm with memberships in numerous other securities and commodities exchanges. When that firm was merged with Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs and Company in 1969, Mr. Chaffe became a partner upon incorporation, an executive vice president, director, and manager of the Corporate Finance Department. In 1981 Mr. Chaffe joined two associates to acquire Becker & Associates, Inc., a marine contracting firm. In response to former client requests, Mr. Chaffe formed Chaffe & Associates, Inc. to offer corporate finance services to private companies. After Becker and Associates, Inc. closed its activities in 1985, Mr. Chaffe expanded Chaffe and Associates, Inc., serving as its president until 2009 when he became chairman of the board of directors.

Mr. Chaffe was an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship in the A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University and later an Entrepreneur-in-Residence in the Levy - Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship at that school. Mr. Chaffe was a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Engineering of Tulane University, a member of the Board of Directors of the Children's Hospital of New Orleans, and the Board of Directors for the World Trade Center of New Orleans. He was a guest speaker on business valuation and other business topics at educational seminars and universities in Louisiana and Mississippi. Mr. Chaffe was also a qualified expert on valuation and corporate finance matters in local, state, and federal courts.

Mr. Chaffe was a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and sat on the board of directors of several private and public companies. Mr. Chaffe was a member of the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club where he served as a director and as president from 1970 to 1973 when that club relocated to its present location. He was a member of the Boston Club where he served as president from 2010 to 2012 and otherwise as a member of the board of government and vice president. He was also a member of the Lakeshore Club and the Louisiana Club. Mr. Chaffe was a member of the Louisiana Society of the Sons of the Revolution and the Society of Colonial Wars in Louisiana where he served as governor. He was also an active member and served on the board of directors of the Pass Christian Yacht Club. He was very active in numerous carnival organizations and served as a member and lieutenant of several.

An avid outdoorsman his whole life, Mr. Chaffe was at most ease at his home, “Halcyon Days” in DeLisle, Mississippi, where he could fish and garden to his heart's content. He delighted in sharing the numerous fish from the bay and the abundant produce from his vegetable and flower gardens with his many friends and acquaintances. He enjoyed many evenings sharing a glass of wine and a fresh meal on his front porch overlooking Bayou DeLisle.

A visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans on September 1, 2026. His body will be interred in Metairie Cemetery in the family tomb.

To view and sign the family online guestbook and share your memories of Mr. Chaffe, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Trinity Episcopal Church (New Orleans and Pass Christian), Saint Charles Ave. Presbyterian Church, and the Manning Family Children's Hospital.