Fernando "Chuck" Bazan

Fernando "Chuck" Bazan of Pleasanton died March 18.

Born in Potosi, Bolivia, Bazan came to the United States in 1957 for undergraduate studies, earning his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Drew University and completing graduate work in geochemistry at Columbia University in New York City.

After graduate study, Bazan worked for a start-up company, Isotopes, Inc. in New Jersey, where he met his wife, Jeanne, in 1962. He became a U.S. citizen and got married in 1963. They moved to California in 1965.

Bazan worked as a research chemist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 30 years and was a resident of Pleasanton, Calif. for 49 years. In his youth, his success in academics was complimented by his love of sports, where he exceled in tennis, soccer, basketball and baseball. His skills in baseball earned him his nickname, "Chuck." He continued to stay active throughout his life, playing tennis and coaching soccer. He was also one of the first volunteer coaches in the Ballistic United Soccer Club.

Bazan is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Jeanne Marie Bazan; children, Grant, Greg and Guy; and eight grandchildren, Nicholas, Camryn, Isabela, Andres, Alejandro, Marcela, Joaquin and Carmen.

Services will be at Graham-Hitch Mortuary, 4167 First St. in Pleasanton, Calif. Visitation is scheduled for Monday, March 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral will be held Tuesday, March 25 at 1 p.m.