A child of the 1950s, Chance grew up in Baltimore County, where he first learned to appreciate the subtleties of nature through childhood romps with his brother in explorations of their suburban wilderness.

A continued and growing love of the natural world led Chance to Towson State University, where he graduated with bachelor’s degrees in both Geology and Geography.

In 1968, Chance moved into Harford County at the age of 21 and began teaching Earth Science and Ecology at Bel Air High School. Rapidly establishing a reputation as a cult hero among aspiring ecologists and a respected ally of the environment in political circles, Chance accomplished one of his greatest feats in 1972 – founding the Susquehannock Environmental Center in Bel Air.

The Susquehannock Environmental Center was the nation’s oldest continually operating recycling center - surviving fire and unfavorable political climates alike – and lived to celebrate its 30th anniversary before closing in 2004.

Riding a swell of support following the success of the new recycling center and pursuing political means to protect the local environment, Chance ran and was elected Bel Air Town Commissioner in 1974. Although his term in office lasted only a few years, Chance was successful in getting the town to adopt a municipal recycling program in his time on the board.

Chance began teaching at C. Milton Wright High School when it opened in 1980 and, after nearly a dozen years at the school, accepted a position at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center in 1991. During his teaching career he was named Eastern Region Environmental Educator of the Year six times. In 1999, Chance retired from teaching after 32 years in the classroom – his induction into the Harford County Council Educator Hall of Fame came shortly thereafter.

Beyond surviving a battle with cancer, starting Environmental Evergreens – his own tree farm business at his home in Darlington – and authoring his Earthline column in The Aegis and The Record newspapers for more than three decades, Chance has held numerous other titles and positions.

Chance has served as chairman of the Environmental Task Force of Harford County, executive director and trails manager for the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway, received Maryland’s Most Beautiful People Volunteer Award in 1989, starred as “Ranger Bob” on the Romper Room television program, was a member of the state Newsprint Recycling Board, site manager at Otter Point estuary, has been a naturalist guide for Galapagos Islands tours and runs Extraordinary Adventures nature camp and a water gardening business, Habitats by Chance.

He resides in Darlington, Harford County.