Chester Urbati

CECS Retired Chester Edward Urbati, Jr. "Chet or Chippy" went to be with our Lord and Savior August 24, 2020, at his home surrounded by family. He was born on June 25, 1934, in Newton, MA and moved to Hingham, MA in 1943, where he went to school up to the 12th Grade. Chester proudly and skillfully served our country. He joined the Navy Reserve in 1952, and went to boot camp at the USNTC Bainbridge, MD in 1953. After boot camp, he went aboard the USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS16) in Key West, FL, and served on it for two years. After that he was discharged, then reenlisted in 1955 at the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Training Command, Quincy, MA, where he served as an Electrician Mate (EM3). In 1958, he cross rated to CECN (Construction Electrician Construction man) in RMCB 12 in Davisville, RI. In 1959, he reported to NAS South Weymouth as a Thirdclass CE. Chester became regular Navy in 1967, and reported to Naval Communication Station, Asmara, Ethiopia. In 1968, he went to Thirty First Naval Construction Regiment, Port Hueneme, CA, and was stationed at the NSA Danang, Republic of Vietnam. After Vietnam, he went to US Naval Station, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and Public Works Department (PWD). In 1974, he was transferred to Gulfport, MS, to serve in Bravo Company at NMCB (Naval Mobile Construction Battalion), Naval Construction Training Center (NCTC) as a FirstClass electrician instructor, and NMCB 62 H Company as a FirstClass Expeditor. In 1981, he was transferred to Naval Facility, Argentina, Newfoundland, Canada, PWD Electric Shop Supervisor. Chester was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer (CEC) in 1983, and transferred to NCTC Gulfport, MS, as Facility Chief, NMCB 62 Bravo Company, then back to NCTC Bravo Company, where he was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer (CECS). after three years, he reported again to NMCB 62. After the decommission of this battalion, he was transferred to NMCB 133 and deployed to Guam. He was part of the detachment sent to American Samoa for two months to provide humanitarian relief and electrical repairs on the island in the wake of Typhoon "Ofa". Upon returning to homeport he reported to NCTC as Facility Senior Chief, where he retired in 1993 with a completed service of 40 years of reserve and active duty. During his military career, Chester earned several awards, medals, and ribbons including Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 awards), Navy "E" Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal (5 awards), National Defense Service Medal (3 awards), Vietnam Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (2 awards), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (6 awards), Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Navy Rifleman Expert Medal and Navy Pistol Expert Medal. He was selected as the Oldest Seabee at the 46" Anniversary Seabee Ball in Guam while deployed with NMCB 62 and also the Oldest Seabee at the 50" Anniversary Seabee Ball in Biloxi MS.
Some of Chester's civilian employments were with Quincy Adams Yacht Yards, Quincy, MA as Ship's Electrician; Bethlehem Steel, Quincy, MA as Maintenance Electrician; GAM Electric, Dorchester, MA as Construction Electrician; Public Works Department, Gulfport, MS as Maintenance Electrician, Traffic Light System Repairman, and MSGCCC Jefferson Davis Campus, Gulfport, MS, as Instructor in Residential Wiring. From 1998 to 2003, he worked as a Contract Construction Inspector for Jardon & Howard Tech. Inc. Projects Helix Electric Inc., Keesler Air Force Base. The project consisted of installing over 80 miles of trench, a million feet of copper wire; laying over 28,000 cubic yds. of concrete, building over 110 manholes, pad mounted transformers and switches. From 2003 to 2005, he worked on a five-story remodeling project at KAFB Hospital and an update of the fire protection system. He was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration and like he used to say "I could not read blue prints nor drive anymore" he retired once more.
In 1976, he enrolled at Phillips College in Gulfport MS and graduated with an associate degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. In 1996, he received a diploma in Industrial Maintenance Trades from MSGCCC Jefferson Davis Campus.
Chester belonged to RSVP and volunteered with the USO during special occasions. He was also an escort at Keesler AFB Hospital for several years and later at the carpenter shop at the Gulf Coast Blind Rehabilitation Center at the Veterans Administration in Biloxi until COVID-19 closures. Thank you to Lester Broome for his friendship and caring. Chester could not have been able to do this without your help. He was also a student at the Blind Rehab Center several times.
He regularly attended Beauvoir United Methodist Church. He enjoyed boating and fishing in the company of his sons and he also could be found working around the yard (he had a "green thumb). He was proud of his Japanese plum trees. Once he said "You've heard of Johnny Appleseed? I'm Japanese Plumseed. I've given several to neighbors." He traveled to Massachusetts during the summer months to visit with family and have a reunion with the South Weymouth Seabee friends. Thanks to Bob Neale for taking the time to be his traveling companion several times.
Among his many lifetime accomplishments, his military service is among some of his most profound, second only to his family. Chester was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, proud veteran, and an avid supporter, and participant in several gatherings of all Seabee Reunions.
Chester was a Lifetime member of Navy Seabee Veterans of America Island XI Gulfport, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Blinded Veterans Assoc. He was also a member of Fleet Reserve Association, American Legion, CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation and Plank owner of the U.S. Navy Memorial.
Chester was preceded in death by his parents, Chester E. Urbati and M. Rita Feeley Urbati; his brother, Ronald Robert (Pudgy) Urbati; and his sister in law, Eleanor Urbati.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Carmen Delgado Urbati of Gulfport, MS; his children, Deborah Ann Cristaldi, Chester E. Urbati III (Sheila), Michael W. Urbati (Gwendolyn) of MS; his grandchildren, Adam Cristaldi (Danyel) of MA, SRA Chester E. Urbati IV of AZ, Senior Airman Chad Cristaldi, Nicolas Urbati, Brittaney Urbati, of MS; his one great grandson, Uriah Cristaldi; his sister, Pamela Diane Hart (Richard) of MA; and many other family and friends.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Hann, Dr. Ross, Dr. Bahadur, Dr. Lewis, KAFB Hospital, VA and their staff for their wonderful/expert care for many years. To the staff at the Blind Rehabilitation Center at the VA in Biloxi for all you did for Chester to make his living with impaired vision easier. Also, to the staff of Kindred Hospice for their compassion and loving care. Our gratitude also goes for the donations sent towards the scholarships that were given in Chester's name. Two of these scholarships have already been awarded and a third will be given at a later date. Also thanks for the Mass Cards that were given in Chester's name.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 PM, Friday, June 25, 2021, at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport, MS, with a visitation for family and friends from 11:00 AM until the service. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery at 1 :30 pm.

Chester's ashes will be placed in an ammunition box that Chester chose and had his grandson, Adam Cristaldi artfully decorate it with chapters of Chester's military life. Chester was extremely proud of the work Adam did with such love and care. The box will be laid to rest in the Columbarium.

This is how Chester lived his dash, June 25, 1934 ~ Aug 24, 2020. An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com