1941-2025
It is with the heaviest of hearts that the family of Gordon Mitcham Chapman, announce his passing on Oct. 24, 2025 at the age of 84. Born in Ramsey, England, he was the son of the late Charles Garton Chapman and Gwendoline Naomi Mitcham.
Gordon was born and grew up in a small market town in eastern England. As a young boy he was inspired to become a physician by his grandmother’s passing and graduated from The London Hospital Medical College of the University of London. After graduation he trained in anaesthesia in Oxford, plus a fellowship at Harvard. After a short period of practise in Fredericton, NB, an academic post lured him back to Boston, MA. Over the next twenty-five years he served successively on the faculties of Harvard, Tufts, and the University of Massachusetts. He retired early from clinical anesthesia and taught vocational rehabilitation courses at Assumption College, Worcester. In 2004, he moved to Saint John, NB, where he helped to rehabilitate injured workers for WorkSafeNB until he retired in 2020. In 2025, he joined the Charlotte County Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.
During his career, he studied the impact of personality traits on professional performance. An avid reader of history, he strived to understand how communities function, and loved reading biographies to help him understand how major figures have dealt with challenges. For Gordon, he never stopped learning, even well into his retirement. His brain was always ‘on’ and he was ever happy to give medical advice when asked, with his knowledge of medicine never-ending. He had a modest bibliography of medical and non-medical publications and was energized by writing fiction, non-fiction and the occasional poem in an exploration of the human experience. His love of writing and collaborating with his writing mentors, peers and community inspired him to publish his first novel and memoir.
Gordon enjoyed travelling, especially over the last 20 plus years with his wife Ellen who was very much involved in the travel industry.
Gordon was a renaissance man whose curiosity, wit and intellect lead him to explore many and diverse interests. He was never idle and always had a project of some sort happening. He loved woodworking and creating all sorts of wonderful wooden pieces from rabbit hutches for his daughter’s pets, a magnificent bench looking out over the St. Croix River, and a beautiful headboard to name a few of his treasures. He reveled in the joy of music and choral singing and sang with the Worcester Chorus, the Saint John Men’s Chorus, the Trinity Anglican Church choir and many other ensembles over the years. A choral friend messaged; “there are many people who knew Gordon, and have enjoyed his warmth, his love of music and his evident joy in sharing that love.”
Along with his love of both writing and music, Gordon loved spending time with his family, grandchildren and friends on Prince Edward Island at his Seaview cottage. His daily routine of flying the various flags he had collected from his travels around the globe built great intrigue and connection. Always a story-teller, he would delight in sharing details with passers by as they guessed its origin. Gordon’s humour was always present – right to the very end… “I’m off now on the midnight express… Yup… Toot toot!”
Gordon was predeceased by his parents, the late Charles Garton Chapman and Gwendoline Naomi Chapman, and brother Dennis Robert Chapman.
In addition to his loving wife Ellen Tucker, Gordon is remembered by daughters Vanessa (Christopher) Chapman-Worthington and her daughter Charlotte, Philippa (Steve) Siegel and her children Carly, Casey, Benjamin, Hayley, Kelly and Kate, Rosalind (Lisa) Chapman and her daughters Veronica and Phoebe, and Naomi (Dave) Chapman and her daughter Rose, his brother Charles Anthony Chapman, his dear cousins, nieces and nephews, furry family Dusky & Moggie, and many special friends.
Cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Gordon’s life will take place at a later date. For those who wish, memorial donations to Charlotte County Cancer or to the CCSPCA would be greatly appreciated by the family.