FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Richard Walden (Mayo III) Chace, former long-time CEO of the Security Industry Association (SIA), died on Sep. 23 in Shenzhen, China. He was 49.
Chace reportedly succumbed to complications suddenly after contracting rabies.
He was born on Jan. 3, 1968, in Fall River, Mass., as the only child of Linda Dee Chace and Richard Walden Mayo Jr. His paternal grandfather, Richard Walden Mayo, was a retired Brigadier General and winner of the bronze medal in the Modern Pentathlon at the 1932 Summer Olympics. His grandfather on his maternal side, Fenner Albert Chace Jr., studied at Harvard University and was “one of the most influential carcinologists of the 20th century,” before becoming a curator at the United States National Museum until his honorary retirement.
Having graduated from The American University in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor’s degree in literature, Chace was happiest getting his hands dirty and enjoyed a long stint as a landscape architect. Chace carried on this passion by leaving his signature designs on every house he called home.
He began working at SIA as the director of communications, and after several years he was mentored by Ron Spiller and served as CEO of the more than 750-member international trade association for the next 11 years. He resigned from SIA in 2011. In conjunction with his work at SIA he became CEO/Founder of The Ashlar Foundation, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to issuing startup funding grants to organizations to promote and build security and life-safety programs for the greater good.
In 2012 Chace moved to Shenzhen to develop and chair the Global Security Industry Alliance (GSIA) with funding from Jincai Yang. GSIA, consisting of security industry associations from countries around the world, works to define and promote a global security business agenda.
“As many people know, Chace had an immense heart that he opened to everyone he met, including animals,” says his wife Linda. “At one point we had four Landseer Newfoundlands, seven assorted cats and eventually rescued an ox named Kobe that lived with us in Shenzhen. Chace’s love of animals moved him to rescue and find homes for many stray dogs in the area, and he eventually opened ‘4 Paws Bakery,’ making all natural ingredient dog treats. Using his oldest dog, Mason, as his mascot, Chace helped educate the Chinese on animal rights and proper health care so they could enjoy a more symbiotic relationship with their pets.”
Chace is survived by his wife, Linda Joy Lattavo, and his two children, Jordyn Zoe Chace (22) and Ryan Isaac Chace (19) of Potomac, Md.
A celebration of life will be held at Nick’s Riverside Grill in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 4. beginning at 5 p.m.
Memorial fund contributions may be sent to the Philip Lattavo Family Foundation (P.O. Box 646, Massillon, Ohio, 44648) along with remembrances and condolences.
