DESMOND Chastanet, son of Arthur and Iris Chastanet who was sixth out of a family of 10 passed away in Wayne, New Jersey on Thursday at the age of 86..
Chastanet attended St. Mary’s College and later became an apprentice surveyor with Mr. McNamara a well-recognised surveyor on island. He then proceeded to the United Kingdom where he earned a B.Sc. Degree in Civil Engineering. He returned to St. Lucia and worked as an engineer at the Public Works Department under Mr.Wint for a short period before assuming the position as Colonial Engineer.
After a few years he migrated to the U.S where he received a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1959. He was a Principal, Professional Engineer at Joseph S. Ward Inc. and the Converse Consulting Firm for a major portion of his professional career. After he retired from Converse Consulting at age 65, he became an independent engineer consultant. Chastanet was married to Teresa Rose Groeller, who was assigned by the Ford Foundation to teach mathematics at the St. Joseph’s Convent based on her academic qualifications.
Chastanet leaves to mourn his wife Theresa, his two daughters Catherine and Terry and his son Robert.
Desmond Chastanet will be truly missed by his immediate family and in particular his brothers Michael, David and his sister Alice who maintained a close relationship with him over the years.