Roger Alan Chastain Obituary

Roger Alan Chastain attended Pioneer High School in San Jose, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Roger Alan Chastain.

Graduation Year	Class of 1963
Date of Passing	Apr 08, 2003
About	ROGER CHASTAIN, SOCCER STAR'S FATHER Roger Chastain, who coached his daughter Brandi in youth soccer before she catapulted to Olympic stardom, died Tuesday following a heart attack he suffered hours after watching her play in the San Jose CyberRays' opening game Saturday. Mr. Chastain's death comes just seven months after his wife, Lark Chastain, died of a stroke at 56. Mr. Chastain was devastated by his wife's death, said longtime friend John Tompkins, and it seemed he ''died of a broken heart.'' Mr. Chastain was 57. The Chastains were devoted parents to two children, Chad and Brandi, and fostered their daughter's enthusiasm in soccer. Brandi Chastain rose to fame at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and 1999 Women's World Cup Championship. She now plays midfielder/defender for the CyberRays women's soccer team. At the team's home games, the Chastains were known for organizing elaborate tailgate parties. CyberRays volunteer boosters were hosting a tailgate party before Saturday's game in honor of Lark Chastain. That night, a portion of the parking lot where the family held tailgate parties was named Lark's Corner. The volunteers also held an auction to benefit the American Stroke Association in her memory. Afterward, Mr. Chastain watched the CyberRays game with his son and attended a post-game party with the team. He returned to his San Jose home. That night, he felt symptoms of a heart attack and called an ambulance, according to a statement from the CyberRays. He was taken to a San Jose hospital and later was transferred to the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center, where he underwent open-heart surgery on Sunday. Brandi and Chad Chastain were at the hospital with him, according to team spokesman Jody Meachem. Mr. Chastain regained consciousness briefly on Monday, but died Tuesday. The Chastains were known and loved by many on the CyberRays for their unwavering support of the players. ''All of us on the team felt like his daughters because he treated us that way,'' CyberRays defender Kelly Lindsey said in a team statement. ''It was touching that Lark and Roger made the CyberRays a part of their family, and we made them a part of ours,'' team general manager Marlene Bjornsrud said in the statement. ''He was our soccer dad. Now both of them are gone. I don't know how we will recover from that.'' Mr. Chastain and his wife met while they were in high school. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and she became a flight attendant for United Airlines. After they married and settled in San Jose, Mr. Chastain worked as an estimator but quit because his boss wouldn't allow him to take his daughter to soccer practices during work hours, Tompkins said. Mr. Chastain and Tompkins later operated a tile business together, and Mr. Chastain went on to become a broker in granite and marble. Born: May 6, 1945, in Merced Died: April 8, 2003, in San Francisco Survived by: Parents, Roger and Hazel Chastain of Carson City, Nev.; three sisters, Charlotte Chastain and Judy Jackson of Carson City and Linda Weber of Scottsdale, Ariz.; daughter, Brandi Chastain; and son, Chad Chastain. Services: Will be announced on www.sjcyberrays.com. Memorial: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children's Cancer Research Fund by mailing checks to the CyberRays office at 1991 Park Ave., San Jose, Calif. 95126. Condolences also can be sent through the Web site. Edition: Morning Final Page: 8B San Jose Mercury News (CA) - April 9, 2003