James D. Chesney, of Dexter, Michigan and Deer Isle, Maine, age 82, died peacefully at his home in Dexter, Michigan on February 12, 2025, after a nearly year-long journey with pancreatic cancer.
He was born on January 26, 1943, in Albany, New York to J. Dukehart Chesney and Marjory H. Chesney. He graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan and received graduate degrees in Political Science from the University of Maryland (M.A.) and the University of Michigan (Ph.D.).
Jim’s life was lived with a blueprint of democratic values and a love for public policy and activism. From his college days to the recent past, his passion was focused on campaigns for elected office, formal policy initiatives, and local grassroots efforts for political, environmental, and social change. His early work in Public Health centered on the statute revisions of statewide health policy legislation in Michigan. While employed at Wayne State University and Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, he collaborated on the creation of a much-needed Federally-Qualified Health Center in Detroit to help give a voice to the underserved populations there. One of Jim’s longest and favorite volunteer efforts was his service on the Board of Directors of the Rapoport Foundation in Waco, Texas, a family foundation that enabled voting rights, electoral policy, and social justice nationally and locally.
After retirement, Jim remained active in Democratic politics, advocating for issues of governance and equality in the Ann Arbor area. When he and his wife Barbara moved west a few miles to Dexter, Michigan, he immediately fell in love with and advocated for the local park, trail, and creek initiatives that were underway right outside his doorstep. He had brought his brand of quiet, effective, and humorous activism to his new town nearly five years ago. Now that town recognizes him as part of their latest water pathways initiative.
But Jim’s passion bloomed in Maine as well as in Michigan. His parents and many relatives from Canada began coming to Deer Isle in the early 20 th century. Every summer would begin with a trip to Deer Isle after school let out in Albany, New York, and would end with a trip back just before school started again. Deer Isle on Dunham’s Point was summer. It would become his happy place on earth, his retirement home, and the template for his life. Sailing out of Sylvester’s Cove onto Penobscot Bay became the model for a life well lived, enjoyed, and cherished. He transferred that love of Deer Isle to his family including his wife Barbara, his son Carey and his wife Ilze, and especially to his three adored grandchildren: Luke, Brooke, and Fiona.
Jim also found a venue for his continued activism on Deer Isle. He served as member and later as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries in Stonington, Maine. This was where his life-long love of Deer Isle came to intersect with his intellectual and political ideals. He loved being lucky enough to be a part of the summer community, and appreciated the Deer Isle lobstering industry and its local fishermen. To be able to contribute to a place he had loved forever was of immense value to Jim.
Jim was predeceased by his sister, Susan Chesney Wakelin and his brothers-in-law Bruce Paul (BP) Vander Mel, James Henry Wakelin, and Kirk Cullen Kingman. In addition to his beloved grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, Jim is survived by his wife, Barbara Kingman Chesney; his son Carey Kingman Chesney and wife Ilze Amelia Chesney; his twin brother Alan Parker Chesney and wife Barbara Haack Chesney; his sister Lucy Chesney Vander Mel; and sister-in-law Susan Kingman Herman and her partner Denny Whipp.
Jim will be missed at home in Michigan and in Maine. Comfort comes to his family and friends from the fact that he was able to serve, to influence, to enjoy, and to love in his full and dedicated life.
There will be a memorial celebration for Jim on August 6, 2025, at the Deer Isle-Sunset Congregational Church with a Zoom link for those who cannot attend in person.
Contributions in Jim’s honor may be made to: Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative, 339 E. Liberty Ste. 320, Ann Arbor MI 48104 (Memo line: Team Chesney Bridge the B2B) Link to Give Online: https://www.classy.org/team/640395; Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, P.O. Box 27 Stonington, ME 04681; Deer Isle-Sunset Congregational Church, P.O. Box 292, Deer Isle, ME 04627.
Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, MI.
