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Captain James C. (Jay) Cheney SC USN(Ret) died of complications from COPD on April 20, 2022. He was the son of George P. and Charlotte C. Cheney, was born on April 13, 1943, in Sewickley, PA, and grew up in Mt. Lebanon, PA, where he graduated high school in 1961.
Jay graduated from the Naval Academy in 1965 and spent 29 years in the Navy before retiring. His assignments included Commanding Officer, both Naval Supply Center and then Fleet Industrial Supply Center, Jacksonville, FL and Inspector General, Naval Supply System Command.
Jay held an MBA with distinction from the University of Michigan, graduated from the College of Naval Command and Staff-Navy War College with highest distinction, and was a Certified Professional Contract Manager. His awards include three Legions of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, a Presidential Unit Citation and the Combat Action Ribbon. He was designated a Surface Warfare Supply Officer and was proud to be the most senior Supply Corps captain at retirement.
After retiring from the Navy in 1994, Jay worked in the Office of Contract Policy, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) for 10 years, then continued to work for NRO as an independent contractor until his passing.
Jay is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Lesley, and his USNA urn engraving includes: “Husband of Lesley. Best decision I ever made.” He is survived by his children, Johanna (Joel) Anderson and Mitch (Andrea) Cheney; grandchildren, Morgan, Caelan, Jack, and Camden; Jay’s brother and sister, George Cheney III and Elizabeth McClancy, and their children, George and Keith Cheney.
Jay’s inurnment at the Naval Academy Columbarium will be announced when arrangements are determined.
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Susan Swager (Becraft)
Jay and I became friends in Herr Campbell's German class. Along with Herr Bill Hertel, we struggled mightily with pronunciations of 26-letter words auf Deutsch. We lost touch until our 50th reunion, when I met Lesley, the love of his life. One of my favorite memories is of our dinner at LeMont, when Jay asked Diane Kessler, Regan Hall, Melodie Campbell and me if he and Les could sit out table. I don't remember ever laughing so hard for so long!
Out of that dinner emerged a great friendship. I last saw Jay and Lesley when they came to Mount Lebanon with their daughter Johanna a few years ago. Over dinner at Bistro 19, we talked nonstop for hours. I last spoke to Jay when he called on my birthday. That's when he told me about his illness.
But nothing prepared me for learning of his death. What an impressive man he was. Intelligent, kind and funnier than hell - I've never known anyone like him. Auf Wiedersehen, Jay.