Norman Chaffee Bohan

Captain Norman ''Breezy'' Chaffee Bohan, USN, Retired, 91, of Ulster Park, died Friday, March 22, 2013 at Arliegh Burke Pavilion in McLean, Va.. He was born February 27, 1922 in Far Rockaway, NY the son of the late Thomas and Alice Chaffee Bohan.

He was the husband of Mary "Fran" Frances Stout Bohan, they wed in November of 1944.

He was a graduate of Kingston High School, Cochran Bryan Prepatory School and the US Naval Academy, Annapolis Maryland, class of 1944. As a teenager he was a Boy Scout, earning his Eagle Scout and a member of the US Naval Reserve.

After graduating the Naval Academy, he served as a gunnery officer on the USS Fitch. During WW II he saw duty in the North Atlantic, Central Atlantic and Mediterranean and participated in the invasions of Normandy. He then served in the Pacific until the end of WW II.

His distinguished career included many duty stations, awards and citations; of local interest, in 1955 he took command of the destroyer escort Joyce. He visited Kingston with the Joyce on Memorial Day 1956, under his Command; the ship was awarded the Atlantic Fleet Battle Efficiency Award. His service medals included the American Defense, American Theater Campaign, European-African-Middle East Campaign, World War II Victory, Korean Service, United Nations, China Service, Navy Expeditionary and Armed Forces Expeditionary medals. Captain Bohan retired after 29 years of serving his country.

He was a parishioner of the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC Church, was past Commander and a very active member of American Legion Post #1298, Esopus, American Legion Boy's State and was a founder and very active member of the Klyne Esopus Historical Society,
In addition to his wife he is survived by; his children, David J. Bohan of Oak Hill, VA, Michael S. Bohan of Edgewater, FL., Barbara R. New of Norfolk, VA., Richard A. Bohan of Southlake, TX, Stephen W. Bohan of Ft. Wayne IN and Jana Forshey of Glen Allen, VA, a sister Mary Bohan of Tucson, AZ, 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren and a niece, Debbi Sheeley Berry of Shokan, NY.

Entrusted to the care of Eric Keyser, Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, 216 Broadway, Port Ewen, NY. Friends may call on Tuesday from 2 -4 & 6 - 8. The procession will form Wednesday 9 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 10 a.m.

Burial in Riverview Cemetery, Port Ewen with military honors. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Klyne Esopus Historical Society, P.O. Box 180, Ulster Park, NY 12487 or the American Legion Post #1298, Esopus.

Memebers of American Legion Post # 1298 are requested to meet Tuesday at 7:30. Ira Weiner, commander