Lt. Colonel Frank T. Chance, Esq.

Frank T. Chance was born, July 13, 1928. He passed away at age 69, on April 03, 1998. Brother Chance was married to Grace (Ritchie) Chance from 1953 to 1998. They had two children, Kimberly and Debra. They had three grandchildren at the time of his death, however; he has an additional grandson and a great grand daughter that he is watching over from heaven.

Brother Chance, was a proud man as well as humble. Proud of his family and proud to support his family in every way possible. He was humble because he never boasted about his accomplishments. You were knowledgeable if you were privy to his private life of activities. Let the work that he did speak for him, was his motto.

Brother Chance was raised by a single mother with three siblings. His father passed away when he was three months old. He was the baby however; his father’s namesake as a Jr. His brother Edward was a minor league professional boxer and baseball player.

Brother Chance attended Kent State University in 1945/46 for three years, graduating in Pre Law. He pledged Kappa Alpha Psi in 1946. He started at age 17. He also was enrolled in the ROTC. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. He spent twenty two years serving his country, ending his career as a Lieutenant Colonel.

He fought in both the Korean and Viet Nam War.

He also was company commander for the 101st Airborne, a Civil Affairs Battalion and Regimental Communications Officer, 35th Infantry 41st – 42nd Military Government the 95th Civil Affairs Company, which was heavily involved in Operation Mercy which was a sensitive U.S. humanitarian mission, aimed at rehabilitating Hungarian refugees, who fled their country during the conflict in 1956. He had many other commander positions from the United States as well as abroad. He lived overseas for five years.

He was a Professor of Military Science and provincial advisor to regional forces. He ended his military career as Executive Officer for the US Army Advisor Group in Oakdale, Pa in 1970.

Brother Chance went to Suffix University for Law while living in Massachusetts, however he couldn’t finish due to the Viet Nam War, where he enrolled as a Major. He did finished from San Gabriel Valley where he passed the bar on the first try!

He moved his family to Erie in 1977 where he was employed at General Electric. He was the Personnel Manager in the Erie Division (known as Human Resources today).

He did law work for many people in the area, including The Baldwin Bros. He was active in the community serving on several boards, where he proudly serve as the Erie County Golf Commissioner and on the Apple Grant Committee on the Historical Perspective of the Underground Railroad. He also was instrumental in the establishment of St. James AME Black Family Institute’s serenity boards (East and West).

He was a life long member and charter of the Erie Pa Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Brother Chance would say, I’m a Kappa Alpha Psi man on earth until I die. I will then stay a Kappa Man in heaven for eternity!

Brother Chance was honored numerous times with awards and citations. The two he was most proud of was the Military Bronze Star 🌟 and the keys to the City in Gloucester Mass, where he was dean of the Gloucester ROTC high school and Professor of Military Science.

Written by the Chance family.

The Good Brother was posthumously honored with his 50 Year Membership Blazer during the ECP Founders’ Day Closed Banquet in Cleveland, Ohio Friday January 20, 2023.