'He didn't hunt or fish; his hobby was the Rochester Elks'

Donald Chesnel (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Don Chesnel, called a "driving force" behind the Rochester Elks for more than half a century, is being remembered today as a man who was passionate about the fraternal organization he loved so much.
"He didn't hunt or fish," said Norm Gervais, the lodge secretary. "His hobby was the Rochester Elks."
Chesnel first joined the Rochester Elks Lodge #1393 in 1975. In 1989 he was elected as Exalted Ruler of the Rochester Elks Lodge, and in 1993 he was selected as District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler. Later, in 1996-97 he was elected president of the State Elks Association, where he served in several leadership and committee roles. He was also Grand Esteemed Lecturing Knight of the Grand Lodge Association from 2023-24.
Chesnel was also selected as the Rochester Elks Citizen of the Year for 2006-2007.
Gervais said his election in 2006 as an "honorary life member" of The Rochester Elks speaks volumes about his service.
"He is the only member of the Rochester Elks to have been honored in such a way, in a decision that was voted on by local members," he said. "He was knowledgeable about all aspects of the lodge and was a stickler for details up until the end."
Active until just recently, Chesnel was currently working two jobs for the Elks serving both as its public relations person and as auditor of the lodge's canteen until he fell ill on Jan. 6, Gervais said.
According to his obituary, Chesnel was also active in the New Hampshire Governor's Conference on Volunteerism and the state Association of Volunteer Administrators. In 2001 he was appointed by the mayor of Rochester to the state Veterans Council, and in 2005 he was appointed by the governor to the Volunteer NH Board of Directors.
Chesnel and wife Joan Beaudoin Chesnel celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on April 15 at Holy Rosary Parish in Rochester before she passed in November.
Chesnel died on Jan. 12 at the age of 77 due to complications from heart disease.