Richard Sleeth Chapman Jr., of Cape Elizabeth, passed away January 30, 2023, at the age of 86.

Richard ("Dick") was born March 27, 1936, in Portland, Maine, to Richard S. Chapman Sr. and Theodocia ("Dodie") (Cleveland) Chapman. He graduated from Deering High School in 1954 and began his college education at the University of Maine in Orono. One of the most rewarding aspects of his time there were the bonds formed and experiences shared with fellow brothers of the University's Sigma Chi Chapter. While at UMO, Dick was an active member of the University's Army ROTC program and was ultimately commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry upon graduation. As an active-duty officer, Dick completed Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne School, Ranger School, Flight School, and served as one of the first UH-1 Huey pilots in the Army. His years spent in the Army were some of his lifetime favorites and he often shared his memories with great fondness.

In 1960, Dick married Eleanor ("Sis") VanAken of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. During their eight years of marriage, they had a son, Jeffrey, in 1961 and a daughter, Karen, in 1963. Dick was honorably discharged from the Army in early 1963.

After leaving the Army, Dick worked in sales for many years before focusing on general contracting. On November 1, 1969, he met Virginia Hoffman on a blind date and they married on June 20, 1970. Together they raised two children, Kurt and Kim, in Cape Elizabeth where they lived for almost 40 years in the house that Dick built. He enjoyed helping out in the community with such things as leading the local Boy Scout Troop and coaching Little League Baseball and Softball. He also loved camping and gardening. He could often be seen in his yard riding his longhorn-embellished lawn tractor and never left home without his cowboy hat. In more recent years, he enjoyed baking treats for his grandkids.

At the time of his passing, Dick was survived by his wife, Virginia ("Ginny") Chapman of Cape Elizabeth, his children and their spouses: Jeffrey Chapman and Julia Austin of Huntington, VT, Karen Alice Wolcott of Brookline, MA, Kurt and Jessica Chapman of Northborough, MA, and Kim and Chad Creasey of Naples, FL. Dick's wife Ginny subsequently passed on April 18, 2023, from complications due to cancer. Dick is also survived by eight grandchildren: Maxwell and Nicholas Chapman, Ana Barnes, Brynn and Brooke Creasey, and John, Isabella, and Sophie Borden. Dick had one great grandchild, Joey, the son of Ana and her husband, Jack Barnes. Dick was predeceased by his older brother, Peter Allen Chapman, of Cohasset, MA. A private celebration of life ceremony is planned for this summer.