Chester L. Towne, 82, of Young Circle died Thursday following a brief illness. Chet was born and grew up in Waltham, Massachusetts. He attended Waltham schools and graduated from the Mt. Hermon School. He earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, and then went to Harvard, where he received an MA in Education and subsequently a CAGS in School Administrations. He began his teaching career in Waltham, and then went to Weston as a teacher and teaching principal. His school career took him to Scituate MA, Bedford Hills and Mt. Kisco, NY, Hamilton NY, and Northampton MA. He served as Superintendent of Schools in South Hadley from 1982 to 1992. After serving as Interim Superintendent in Northampton, Chet retired from education in 1993. Chet was a member of the Center Church and served as a Town Meeting member for many years. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nancy and his three children, Deborah Hein and her husband Steven of Woodbridge, VA, Leland from South Hadley and David and his wife Laurie also from South Hadley. He is also survived by his grandchildren Elizabeth, Jennifer, Alexander, Rebecca, Rachael and Christopher and three great grandchildren, Samuel, Wesley and Charlotte. The memorial service will be held at the Center Church in South Hadley Friday at 1:00pm with burial in Waltham at the convenience of the family. Visiting hours will be held at the Curran-O'Brien Funeral Home Thursday from 4:00 – 7:00pm. Donations may be made to the Center Congregational Church, 1 Church Street, South Hadley, MA or to the Council on Aging of South Hadley, 45 Dayton Street, South Hadley, MA 01075.