Remembering Victor Chigas

September 20, 2022

Victor Chigas was one of a kind. He grew up in Catskill, New York, and worked in his father’s Greek restaurant where he honed the exceptional people skills that were a hallmark of his remarkable life.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force and a graduate of Denver University. As a kid, Victor was interested in sailing, but his family couldn’t afford a boat. Occasionally, he was able go boating with others and finally learned to sail.

Through hard work and resolve, Victor eventually bought his own boat – a 28’ C&C – and soon caught the racing bug. As the years passed, the boats got bigger. All of them bore the name Deep Powder – a nod to his love for skiing in the winter. For many years, he was a professional ski instructor, and he skied regularly until he passed away on August 2, 2022.

Victor served on the Board of the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation for many years including several years as its treasurer. He cared deeply about introducing children to boating because he understood how the sport had positively impacted his own life.

Victor was very involved with the Foundation’s programs and the kids they served. At our first “Lead HER Ship” program luncheon several years ago, Victor walked the girls down to the front desk to buy them sun protection hats so they wouldn’t get sunburned on the trip. And he was always offering to provide the extras that made the experiences even more special for the kids.

Victor is survived by his children, Christopher (Lisa), Bill (Mickey), and VJ (Maria), and his granddaughters Kelsey, Alexandra, and Olivia. Alexandra and Olivia are avid sailors who have competed at the high school and collegiate levels.

The Chigas family has kindly requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the CYC Foundation in Victor’s memory. As VJ said, “My father cared deeply about giving kids access to the water, especially kids from Chicago who had never even seen Lake Michigan. That’s why he was such a strong supporter of the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation.”

If you would like to donate to the Foundation in honor of Victor, please click here. And please join us for his farewell toast, Saturday, September 24, 2022, at CYC Belmont Station from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Come in your favorite crew wear and raise a glass (or two) in Victor’s memory.