ONEONTA – Calvin W. “Cal” Chase, 67, considered the “first fan” of the Hartwick Hawks soccer team, which won the NCAA National Championship in 1977, passed away Monday, July 31.

Retired from a long career at NBT Bank, Cal rallied alumni when the college was considering dropping its Section 1 status during financial challenges in the early years of this century.  The drive largely met the fund-raising goal set by the college’s then-president, Dick Miller, and the program was saved.

In November 2012, Cal was memorialized in the Calvin W. Chase ‘71 Men’s Soccer Room at the renovated Binder Physical Education Building.

Arrangements under the direction of Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.