Charles (Chuck) Nathan Roys, 82, of Leverett, MA passed away on Monday, July 25, 2022 at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, MA after a courageous battle with cancer.  He was born in 1939 in Lafayette, IN to the late Carl and Ursula Purinton Roys.  After moving to Leverett, MA, Chuck attended Leverett Elementary School and Amherst Regional High School lettering in football, basketball, and baseball.  Attending Springfield College, he was their starting catcher for 3 years.  Chuck served in the US Army from 1961-63 and was stationed at Fort Lee, VA.  While in VA he met his life-long partner and wife, Sarah.  During his stint in the military, he was the starting catcher for the USA baseball team in the Pan American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil where the team won a silver medal.  Upon leaving the Army, he became an Asst. Prof. of PE and varsity baseball coach at Lyndon State College in VT.  While there he also became the Asst. to the President.  He and Sarah moved back to VA where Chuck became Asst. Prof. and head baseball coach at Virginia Military Institute for 2 years.  He then moved back to his alma mater, Springfield College, becoming an Asst. Prof. of PE, JV baseball coach and then head baseball coach taking the SC Division II baseball team to the finals in Montgomery, AL.  After retirement he became Asst. baseball coach at Amherst College for 2 years.

            During his long baseball career, he was inducted into the Amherst Regional High School Hall of Fame, Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame and the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame.  He was the recipient of many awards including NCAAII New England Baseball Coach of the Year, the Jack Butterfield award for outstanding service to New England Collegiate Baseball, and the American Baseball Coaches Association Meritorious Award.  He was also a former member of the NCAA National Baseball Rules Committee for 6 years.

            In retirement Chuck enjoyed golfing at Amherst Golf Club, a 3-day golf trip with friends to the Country Club of NH, travelling abroad, hunting at his cabin in VT and fishing.  He was always happy painting with acrylic paints. He loved painting birds and pictures of friends’ homes and making clocks then giving many of them away.  He was very active in the Leverett Congregational Church, serving on the Board of Trustees and participating in many capacities.

            Chuck is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sarah Dunkum Roys, his sister Dorothy Morrissey of East Sandwich, MA, his brother Arthur Roys of Brooksville, FL and many loving nieces and nephews including his devoted niece, Dorothy Spadola.  Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his sisters Mary Valiton of Hillsboro, NH, Eleanor Woodard of Brookline, NH, and brother Robert Roys of Juneau, AK.

            We wish to thank the staff at Hospice of the Fisher Home for their wonderful and loving care.  Also, many thanks to Pete Keyser for visiting his golf buddy every day.  Thanks for those from near and far who visited and for the cards, calls and many messages of encouragement.

            In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the charity of your choice.  Calling hours will be at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA on Friday, July 29 from 5 to 7 p.m.  A celebration of Chuck’s life will be held at the Leverett Congregational Church, 4 Montague Road, Leverett, MA on Saturday, July 30 at 10 a.m. with burial immediately following the church service at the East Leverett Cemetery.  Masks are not mandatory but would be appreciated by the family. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com