Cdr. James Fitzhugh Chesley, U.S.N. Ret. passed away on November 30, 2020, in Chesapeake Shores Nursing Home. He was born on April 20th, 1930 in Clear Spring, MD, the youngest son of William Fitzhugh and Cecil Rich Chesley of Charlotte Hall, MD. He graduated from Charlotte Hall Military Academy before entering the United States Naval Academy graduating in 1953. Following his graduation, he and Cecilia Marie Anderson were married in a candlelight ceremony at the Naval Academy Chapel. Jim earned his Navy Wings in 1954 and completed a successful career as a Naval Aviator. He flew various aircrafts during his twenty-eight years of active duty. In 1964 he attended foreign language school in Washington D.C., and served two tours in the diplomatic service as the United States Naval Attache in Singapore and later he and his family moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he served as the United States Naval Attache for Air for two years. Returning to Aviation he became a flight instructor, training pilots at N.A.S. Meridian, Mississippi. Cdr. Chesley is also a graduate of the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. His last tour was at the Naval Air Facility in Washington, D.C., as a pilot for the Secretary of the Navy. He retired in 1976 and lived in Annapolis, MD before moving back to St. Mary’s County.
He is survived by his wife, Marie and daughter Andi Marie Rucci (Cdr. Gregory U.S.N. Ret.), Robin Fitzhugh Zupanc (Edward), Granddaughter Jamie Marie Zupanc, Grandson James Garrett (Catherine), Grandson 1st Sgt Craig Garrett U.S.M.C (Crystal), Great-Grandson Hayden Garrett, and Great-Granddaughter Teagan Garrett.
He was predeceased by his brothers; William R. Chesley, Frederick S. Chesley, Kenneth Chesley and sister Polly Fenn.
All Funeral Services will be private
