Phoebe Ashley Chardon

WESTPORT — Phoebe Ashley Chardon, 90, of Westport Point, died on July 31, 2023, surrounded by the love and care of her family and companions. She slipped away peacefully at Maskasach, her family home, just as her husband Alain had done 11 years ago. Born Phoebe Warren Ashley, she was the daughter of Clifford Warren Ashley – well-known New Bedford artist and author of The Ashley Book of Knots, and Sarah Rodman (Scudder) Ashley – renowned New Bedford historic preservationist. She spent her early years in the Southcoast of Massachusetts, where she developed a deep appreciation of family, nature, art, and beauty in all forms. Phoebe was educated at Friends Academy, Miss Hall’s School, and Vassar College. She had an insatiable love of learning, was deeply knowledgeable on an incredible range of subjects, and had a life-long love of teaching. Phoebe met the love of her life, Alain J. Chardon, in Westport during the summer of 1948. They were married in 1952, while both were still in college. After finishing their education, they moved to New Hampshire and joyfully welcomed three children into their lives: Marc, Stephen, and Jennifer. Phoebe and Alain were blessed with 60 years of life, love, and happiness together, creating cherished memories as they navigated life's adventures side by side. Throughout her life, Phoebe remained devoted to her family and her beloved historic home, Maskasach. Since 1986, Phoebe and Alain carried on the family tradition of making Maskasach a place of joy and connection for generations of Ashley, Scudder, and Chardon descendants. An avid hiker and white-water canoer, Phoebe’s passion for the outdoors and love of teaching were most evident in her lifelong love affair with skiing, which she did until she was 81 years old. She first taught at Pat’s Peak where she helped establish the Ski School and Programs. She then served as Ski Instructor and then Ski School Director at Cannon Mountain for over 30 years. She simply adored skiing, even on rainy days when she enjoyed the lack of people and incredible conditions. Phoebe pursued her passion for protecting nature and helping people through her careers in politics and philanthropy. While living in New Hampshire, she served as State Representative for New Hampshire’s District 6, rising to become Assistant Majority Leader in the Legislature. She was also actively involved in the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, serving as Foreign Policy Chairman and later as a director. After she and Alain moved back to Westport, Massachusetts in 1986, Phoebe became the Rhode Island Senate Minority Leader’s Chief of Staff. In her retirement years, she remained active in supporting local charities, organizing Vassar reunions, and attending monthly Women’s Club lunches at the Wamsutta Club in New Bedford, Massachusetts. A world traveler with an immense sense of adventure, Phoebe loved to organize and created amazing memories for her family to cherish. Favorite trips included: the Azores with her three children; an African safari; Machu Picchu with her husband and Vassar; Antarctica to see the mountain range named for her father; and a 50th anniversary trip to Costa Rica with all her children and grandchildren. Her family cherishes vivid and indelible memories of “Grandma Phoebe” moments large and small. She was a sewing enthusiast, and one of her favorite annual projects was to design and create intricate and detailed clothes for her children’s and grandchildren’s Steiff bears each Christmas. She had an impressive green thumb and had great fun planting and tending a 500-tree maze, inspired by one her father had built in the 1930s. And she and Alain square danced nearly every Saturday each summer and soaked up as much beach time as possible. Phoebe is survived by her sister, Jane and her three loving children, Marc, Stephen, and Jennifer. She was also a cherished grandmother to six grandchildren – Meghan, Troy, Robert, Marie, Linda, and Christopher – and three great-grandchildren: Liam, Cole, and Ava. The immediate arrangements were private and attended by Phoebe’s immediate family. In lieu of flowers, Phoebe asked that donations be made to the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire and the Westport Historical Society.