UniveRsity of HaRtfoRd - Hartford Hawks

Ch a s e Fa m i l y Ar e n a
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Chase Family Arena, the home of the University’s men’s and women’s
basketball teams, was dedicated to honor David and Rhoda Chase
and their family for an outstanding history of contributions to the
University of Hartford. A ceremony to mark the occasion and thank
the Chase family was held in 1998.
David Chase, whose connection with the University goes back to
his days as an engineering student at Hillyer College (predecessor
of the University of Hartford), received an honorary doctorate of
commercial science from the University in May 1998. He also served
as the first Distinguished Visiting Fellow of the University’s Barney
School of Business in 1983. As chairman and chief executive officer of
Hartford-based Chase Enterprises, he led the expansion of the real
estate development and communications company into the financial
services and cable television industries in his native Poland.
His wife, Rhoda, is a longtime member of The Hartt School board
of trustees. Also honored at the ceremony were Arnold and Sandra
Chase and their family and Cheryl A. Chase and her family. Sandra
Chase earned a master’s degree in education at the University.
The Chase Arena, which opened in January 1990, not only is home
to the University’s NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball
programs but also has hosted a variety of community events;
from a fund-raiser featuring Christopher Reeve and a Bob Dylan
concert to business expositions and a variety of sports clinics.
Other featured events held at the arena in the past several
years include a jersey-retiring ceremony for NBA All-Star and
former University of Hartford basketball player Vin Baker
and a sports card show with Jeff Bagwell, former University
of Hartford baseball star and National League MVP in
1994 with the Houston Astros. The arena was also used by
the U.S. Women’s Olympic basketball team for practices
and a clinic.
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