Anthony (Tony) R. Chard of Raynham, formerly of Braintree, passed away at the age of 75 in his home surrounded by his loving family following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer on November 6, 2021. Born in Bristol, England, Tony was the son of the late Norman and Joyce (Jones) Chard and brother to the late Bryan Chard. Tony is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Louise (New) Chard, his loving daughter Michelle (Chard) Strojny and her husband Aaron, and his cherished grandson Jack. In addition, he leaves behind his adored sister-in-law Kathy Welch and brother-in-law Rick Welch, as well as several treasured nieces and nephews.
After attending Sandwell College in West Bromwich, England, and acquiring a degree in engineering, Tony undertook an extended apprenticeship before immigrating to the United States in 1970 to pursue a career in sheet metal fabrication and tool and die making. He opened his own manufacturing shop in the Hingham Shipyard in the 1970s, and after running the business for several decades, he went to work with Precision Fabricators in Stoughton, where he continued to work until his diagnosis. Tony forged strong bonds with many of the men who worked for him and with him over the years, and they loved him as both a boss and friend.
Tony was loved by all who met him, and he was known for his quick-witted English sense of humor, his infectious laugh, and his generous spirit. Aside from spending time with the family he loved and adored so deeply, he enjoyed spending time with his friends, especially his best friends, Dick and Linda Painten, of East Bridgewater, and Linda Parker and her late husband Billy, of Carver. Among his many hobbies throughout his life, Tony enjoyed fishing, scuba diving, watching the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox, and was a voracious reader. He and his daughter shared a lifelong passion for martial arts after introducing her to it when she was 11.
In the last couple of months of his life, Tony was cared for at home by his family with the gracious help of several wonderful nurses from Old Colony Hospice. His family would like to thank them all for their compassion and kindness during that very difficult time. A special heartfelt thanks to Katy DeMello.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours and a memorial service on Sunday, November 14, 2021, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington Street, Taunton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ALS ONE, a cause dear to Tony’s heart, at 8 Industrial Way, Whitman, MA 02382, or www.alsone.org.