Rev. George D. Chapman

Reverend George Dimond Chapman, 72, of Fitzwilliam, NH, died suddenly on Monday, October 29, 2007, while working outdoors.
Reverend Chapman was born November 25, 1934 in Windsor, NH, the son of Lester T. and Helen M. (Ahearn) Chapman of Hillsboro, NH.  He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1952.  He graduated from Elon University in 1959.  He was instrumental in the formation of Franklin Pierce College (now University), along with his friend, John Benton Rice, where he then taught history for two years.

George has had a lifetime of service to God through the United Church of Christ.  He received his Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in 1964. Over the next 26 years, he served as pastor of UCC churches in Rindge, NH, Vineland, NJ, and East Bridgewater, MA. While living in Pasadena, CA, George was actively and prayerfully involved as a member of Altadena Congregational Church.  When George moved back to New Hampshire in 1997, he joined Fitzwilliam Community Church where he served as a deacon, on the stewardship committee, the mission committee, and occasionally covered Sunday ministerial duties at the request of the pastor.� He was also active in the Cheshire Association of the United Church of Christ, serving on its Commission on Ministry.  At the time of his death George was serving as the interim pastor for the Gilsum Congregational Church in Gilsum, NH.

In the 1980's George began a new career in the museum field.  He spent 7 years as an interpreter at Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA, and then moved to Utah to attend graduate school, receiving a MS in American Studies with honors in Utah State Universitys Living History and Outdoor Museums program of Utah State University under Dr. Jay Anderson. He held curator positions at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, NJ, Historic Fort Wayne, IN, and Historic Rock Castle in Hendersonville, TN.  As a member of the Association for Living History, Farms and Agricultural Museums (ALFAM), he led several workshops, delivered papers at regional and national meetings, and wrote articles for various professional publications.  He was especially interested in teaching those new to living history interpretation the finer points of the profession.  After retirement from this second career, he moved to Pasadena, CA and started a business, Living History Interpretations, doing first person historical interpretations based on characters from his curator positions and also from his 18th century New Hampshire ancestor Joseph Chapman for schools and historical societies.  George also was active in historical re-enactment groups, including Old Bridgewater Minutemen during the Bicentennial, American Civil War Society and 69th New York State Volunteers (Irish Brigade) in California, and most recently serving as the Colonel of the Regiment Bourbonnais, an 18th century French unit.

In Fitzwilliam, he was active in the Historical Society, the Library Development Committee, and on the towns Budget Committee and Memorial Day Committee.

George had a love of old radio shows and movies, big band era music, the Celtics, the Red Sox, walks in the woods, talking to the animals, canoeing, fishing, researching his familys genealogy, preserving Second Amendment rights, and adding his astute and thought-provoking comments to various professional and local electronic mailing lists.

George is survived by his children Carol A. Chapman of Hollywood, PA, Paul E. Chapman, and his wife Rita, of Harrisonburg, VA, and Russell A. Chapman, and his wife, March Hajre, of Lafayette, CA, his former wife and the mother of his children, Shirley A. (Swank) Chapman, of Hollywood, PA, and grandchildren Erin�C. Hajre-Chapman, Gabriel D. Chapman and Aaron P. Chapman, step-grandchildren Morgan Dickey, Kyle Dickey, and Joshua Chapman, and step-great grandson Ethan Hecker.  He is also survived by Victoria M. Fisher, his companion in life and love, and her daughters, Michele P. Bernal, and her husband Paul, of Skillman, NJ, Jennifer M. Skelton, and her husband Dean, of Fitzwilliam, and her grandchildren, Michael A. Picinisco, Blake N. Skelton, Hayden L. Skelton, William P. Bill Bernal and Andrew J. AJ Bernal.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Chapman, his brother, Norman L. Chapman, and newborn son Gary Dean Chapman.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Georges memory to the Pastors Discretionary Fund, Fitzwilliam Community Church, PO Box 510, Fitzwilliam, NH� 03447.

Internment will be in Maple Avenue Cemetery in Hillsboro, NH at the convenience of the family.

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Rev. Lynda Tonking Tolton will conduct a Celebration of Joy in Georges honor on� Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fitzwilliam Community Church, 85 NH Route 119 West, Fitzwilliam, NH , which will be followed by a fellowship gathering in the church vestry.