MILFORD, PA — Hundreds of people gathered in the Ann Street Park to celebrate the life of Davis R. Chant on May 21. Chant, the founder of Davis R. Chant Realtors and an iconic civic leader, passed away after a short illness in Boca Raton, FL with his family by his side on April 22 at the age of 84, according to his obituary.

Chant, who was born in Port Jervis, NY, attended high school at what is now known as Delaware Valley. While he did not gratuate from the school, as his family moved to North Carolina, Jayson Pope, speaking on behalf of the Delaware Valley Hall of Fame, said Chant was the only Hall of Famer who actually didn’t graduate from the school. He was exceptional, Pope said.

Sen. Lisa Baker, in eulogizing Chant, said he possessed “old-fashioned good manners and tried-and-tested professional courtesy.” She teased that he had a second marriage of sorts: of passion and profession. She credited him for maintaining professional partnerships and possessing a “special skill in bringing buyers and sellers together.” She said he had a “considerable advantage of working with really, really good people, particularly Pete Helms and John Schmitt, and the entire team at Chant Real Estate, who were his second family.”

Mayor Sean Strub categorized Chant as the epitomy of a gentleman, with an emphasis on gentle.

The service included poetry by Pike County’s poet laureate, Chuck O’Neil; solo a capella renditions of “Amazing Grace” and “When the Saints Come Marching In” by Jonathan Fornoff; and a Masonic memorial service, in which Chant’s fraternal brothers bid a final farewell. Long-time colleagues, mentees and community members spoke of Chant’s ability to listen and always to resolve challenges with thoughtful solutions. Plus, he had a knack of introducing people to each other to further collaborations and forward progress, they said.

“Dave poured a wealth of time, talent and energy into a wide range of community, commercial and charitable projects. He wanted success to spread and multiply. People can tabulate what he achieved in the way of sales. And we all know they were astonishing numbers. But it’s impossible to put a price tag on the advice, immense mentoring he dispensed with, or the countless organizations that he enriched and encouraged,” Baker said. 

His legacy will live on for generations to come, she said.

Chant is survived by his wife of 40 years, Judy Chant; his daughter Tamara and her two children, Hannah Saltzman and husband Dylan Le Pogam, and Jacob Saltzman; daughter Holley and her partner Cyrus Hodes; siblings Pat, Bruce, Gerald and Nancy Porter, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Chant was instrumental in the creation and support of many prominent civic, arts and cultural organizations. His family has established the Davis R. Chant Fund for the Arts at the Greater Pike Community Foundation to carry on his legacy of generosity and community support.