Chester Harrison Wolf

Chester Harrison Wolf, a 30-year resident of Crofton, MD, passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at the Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Mandrin Inpatient Care Center in Harwood, MD. He was 59. 

Chet was a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD and the University of Maryland University College. He continued to support his alma mater, rooting on the Terrapins in just about every sport.

Chet was a veteran of the United States Army 10th Special Forces Group (1979-1981) and Virginia Army National Guard 20th Special Forces Group (1996-2003). He was a career Green Beret Operator, with the Military Occupational Specialty of Special Forces Engineer. In 2002 he was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom, and deployed to Qatar and Afghanistan where he served in combat and earned the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was honorably discharged in 2003 at the rank of Staff Sergeant. His commendations included the Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal. He also earned the Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

Chet’s civilian career began as an account coordinator at J. Walter Thompson in Washington, D.C., where he worked primarily on the Marine Corps account. He transitioned to retail management for several years, holding positions at Hudson Trail Outfitters, The Paper Store, and a Hallmark franchise. He was also a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in the Crofton community. After completing a post-baccalaureate certification at Johns Hopkins University, he began a longstanding career in defense contracting, working for AAI Corporation as an information security officer and most recently for Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems Division as a security analyst in Linthicum, MD. 

Outside of work, Chet was an avid sailor and kayaker who took every opportunity to be out on the water. After reacquainting himself with the mechanics of sailing at the Downtown Sailing Center in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning his own sailboat. His wife Vicky was an adequate first mate. Chet was also passionate about landscaping, horticulture and birdwatching. He enjoyed sharing these passions with his family, friends, and anyone with a listening ear.

After a courageous, 7-year battle with cancer and exhausting every possible treatment option, he entered into hospice care in July 2019. Chet’s grace will have a lasting impression on those he loved, including every single person who helped care for him, and his hopefulness will be his legacy.

Loving son of Patricia M. Wolf and the late Harrison F. Wolf; Chester is survived by his devoted wife, Victoria; two daughters, Emily (Kristine Salerno) and Sarah; brother, Arthur (Carolyn Kate); niece Helen Sandstrom (Jeffrey); nephew David (Caitlin); and grandnephew Caleb Sandstrom.

The family will receive friends at the Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., 1411 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD 21113 on Monday, November 25, 2019 from 3 - 5 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1110 St. Stephen’s Church Road, Crownsville, MD 21032 at 11 a.m, where Chet and his family have been parishioners since 1990. Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be determined.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, www.hospicechesapeake.org or Miriam’s Kitchen, www.miriamskitchen.org.

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