Cheryl A. Chase ’78 JD, Stuart Bear, and their family have committed $1.5 million to support the UConn Health emergency department and School of Law classroom technology. In recognition of this gift, UConn Health will create the Chase-Bear-Dyer Advanced Triage Unit and the UConn School of Law will name a classroom the Chase-Bear-Dyer Family Classroom.
This gift is made possible by Cheryl Chase, Stuart Bear, and their children, Dara Chase Dyer ’10 JD and Landon Chase. Cheryl Chase and her family are longstanding supporters of UConn with a focus on giving to UConn Health and the School of Law. At UConn, the Chase family has generously supported scholarships, endowed faculty, and pediatric medicine, among other areas.
The Chase-Bear-Dyer family’s gift has enabled the UConn Health Farmington campus to renovate its emergency department to address increasing patient volume and growing demand for emergency services. UConn Health added seven new specialized evaluation bays designed for “vertical” patients — those who can be safely evaluated in chairs or recliners. With these added features, the Chase-Bear-Dyer Advanced Triage Unit has stronger surge capacity, enabling medical professionals to quickly evaluate patients and prioritize care when patient volumes are high.
“Emergency medicine depends on both skilled providers and spaces equipped to support fast, effective decision-making,” says Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Chief Executive Officer for UConn Health Dr. Andrew Agwunobi. “By supporting this advanced triage unit, the Chase-Bear-Dyer family is helping us strengthen a critical point of care — increasing our capacity to respond in times of high need and crisis, enhancing flow and efficiency, and improving the experience of patients with a range of needs.”
The Chase-Bear-Dyer School of Law gift establishes an endowment that will permanently provide stable funding for technology infrastructure in classrooms, practice courtrooms, the library, and other campus spaces, including artificial intelligence software and resources to hire instructors for technology and AI-related courses. The Chase-Bear-Dyer Family Classroom will be a well-used first-floor classroom in Cheryl A. Chase Hall on the School of Law’s Hartford campus. Chase Hall was previously named in recognition of a major gift from the Chase family in 2005.
“We are deeply grateful for the Chase family’s enduring and faithful generosity to the School of Law,” says UConn School of Law Dean Eboni S. Nelson. “By equipping learning spaces for modern modes of teaching and supporting technology-related curricular developments, the Chase-Bear-Dyer family is strengthening the student experience and ensuring we can prepare future leaders and advocates for the professions of tomorrow in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.”
Stuart Bear led a long legal career, including as a Connecticut Superior Court and Connecticut Appellate Court judge. Cheryl Chase is principal, co-president and general counsel of Chase Enterprises, where she has worked for nearly five decades. The multi-generational, Hartford-based investment firm was founded in 1952 by her father, David Chase ’06 H, who helped reinvigorate downtown Hartford with the construction of the “Gold Building,” One Corporate Center (the Stilts Building), and 280 Trumbull Street in the 1970s and 1980s. David met Cheryl’s mother, Rhoda Chase ’06 H, when she was taking UConn classes in the 1940s.
Cheryl also serves as vice chair of the UConn Health Board of Directors and previously served on the UConn School of Law Foundation Board and Advisory Council.
“I have seen firsthand how UConn Health has impacted my own and my family members’ lives and I have deep connections to UConn as a law alumnus and parent,” says Cheryl. “I believe in its mission to make a difference for patients, students, and the broader community. I hope this gift strengthens UConn Health’s ability to care for patients in their moments of greatest need and the School of Law’s capacity to prepare future lawyers and leaders to advance justice and meet the needs of society.”
“The Chase-Bear-Dyer gift creates opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be possible, advancing emergency patient care and enhancing law students’ learning experiences,” says UConn Foundation President and CEO Amy Yancey. “Their generosity reflects the extraordinary impact donors can have, advancing the University’s strategic priorities in healthcare and beyond while enabling the University to serve Connecticut through education, research, service and care.”
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Because of you, UConn can create an even greater impact. Explore ways to contribute and get involved in Husky Nation at foundation.uconn.edu/get-involved.
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