Chester A. ‘Chet’ Yastrzemski of Water Mill died on November 12 of natural causes at the Southampton Rehabilitation Center. He was 98.
He was born in Water Mill on November 8, 1925, and was raised by a farm family and went to Hayground Elementary school and Southampton High School.
He enjoyed sports, hunting and fishing during his youth. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He trained in the Army to be a military policeman, and was later sent to serve in the European Campaign. His military duty included serving in Belgium and Germany, and he was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star.
After the war, he worked on farms, and then, using his military MP training, he joined the Southampton Village Police Department, serving for more than 34 years. He attended the New York State and FBI police academies and later was promoted to lieutenant and was acting chief of police.
After retiring from the police department, he enjoyed wintering in Hawaii and California, and the summer in Southampton riding his bicycle, taking photos and hanging out at Coopers Beach.
His great passion, his family said, was attending veterans services, especially his 69th Infantry Division reunions.
He was predeceased by his first wife Veronica. He is survived by his children, Chet (Kim), Robert, Michael and Elizabeth; grandchildren Adam and Craig (Sandy) Yastrzemski; and great-grandchildren Emma, Addison, Aleksander, Sofia, and Salwynn Yastrzemski. He was also predeceased by his second wife Barbara, and survived by her daughter and son and their children, Makayla, Miles, Cole and Laine.
Staff Writer on Nov 20, 2023