Robert Sedgwick Chapman

Robert Chapman Obituary

1944 - 2017
Robert Sedgwick Chapman, MD, MPH, formerly of Chapel Hill, N.C. and a resident of Bangkok since 2004, passed away on June 10, 2017 after a long illness bravely borne. Dr. Chapman was an epidemiologist with the EPA for 30 years, then taught epidemiology, public health, and biostatistics at the College of Public Health Sciences at Chulalongkorn University. He is survived by his sister Ruth Chapman, brother Kim Chapman, partner Duang Yaingulueaum, and stepdaughters Maturos Pam Martin and Ganlaya Jan Rizzo.

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Published by New York Times from Jun. 16 to Jun. 17, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Chapman

Sponsored by His loving family near and far.

14 Entries

Sam Kilbourn

June 22, 2025

So good to hear from you, Ganlaya Jan Rizzo! If I could speak for Chaz to welcome his granddaughter, I would fail to put it half as elegantly/eloquently though no less lovingly than would he. "Just the same [to use a consistently Chaz phrase], Congratulations my dear Jan, Welcome to life my dear Gia"!

Ever harboring thoughts to word my endless loss of early and consistently deepest-thinking friend, he always kind without exception, yet as immersed in my same view of joy in the silliness of mystery, inquiry, curiosity, challenge, dubiosity, pain, loss, discovery, and through it all the emotional salve felt so deeply in falling to the nonsense liying at the bottom of mere human attempts to understand. I think of Chaz (occasionally to him aloud, speaking of silly) as I craft ridiculous takes on what comes to mind in my ninth decade of 'quiet desperation' (see below). Such as this very day whilst one man moves humanity closer than ever to the end of all life:

"What can we do but laff and cry 'cause the end is nigh, spit in his eye? Nay let's laff and cry soaring high in a see of glee, above all care, facing again a change of underwear."

To Pisamai "Tuk"' Chapman, an overdue thank you for your own kind words back in July 2017, which I would be happy to take you up on with contact by email: [email protected] any time. And Congratulations to you as well dear Grandma, and I do hope you are well! Much Love to you too!

And, to Dear Ruth Chapman now yourself a Great Aunt (possibly not for the first time?) much love to you too, and let's write or speak soon as age and time speed up on us all.

With Love and thanks for our shared life times with Chaz,

Sam (the other) Kilbourn

Ganlaya Jan Rizzo

June 11, 2025

Today I woke up and thought how could you be gone from this earth eight years ago. I wish I could tell you that you have a grand daughter named Gia who was born last year- (just 5 days before your birthday March 31). I miss you everyday and I think about how very blessed I was that you were part of my life. I love you always.

Sam Kilbourn

June 10, 2022

I think constantly of Chaz (as known to us who grew up with him in Darien); aching for another round of his insights baked in deeply emotional laughter (see my remembrance below), at times laughing aloud in reliving one of our hilarious exchanges. His memory dwells safely within me, I miss him beyond words, he inspires my continuing love of a life drenched in pondering laughter. I send all my love to his delicious family: his sibs Ruth and Kim, his former wife Tuk (Pisamai Chapman - see her message below addressing me, the other 'Sam'), his step-daughters, his grandchildren; which is not overlook his late Mother, Joy Chapman, who gave such safe harbor to our adolescence.

Sam Kilbourn, Freeport, Maine

DB ('Britt') MacLaughlin

November 23, 2021

Chaz and I grew up in Darien, CT and lived on the same lane after the Chapmans build a new house there. We were schoolmates and good buddies until I left Darien in 1956. I am impressed by the paths he took in life and deeply saddened that he is no longer with us. I think of those days with great fondness, good memories, and lots of pre-teen laughs. RIP, old friend. - Cape Town, South Africa

Michael Davey

December 7, 2017

Bob was a classmate at Phillips Academy Andover (we knew him as Bob back then). I remember him as very pleasant and extremely bright with a warm sense of humor. We lost touch after Andover, but he was and always will be part of that band of brothers who experienced that critical coming of age together.
I am saddened to add him to that list of our departed classmates that we recite and memorialize at each of our now annual reunions. I think I can speak on behalf of our Phillips Academy Class of 1962 in offering our condolences to his family and loved ones.
Memory eternal,

Brook Ashley

September 1, 2017

Chaz was the most beautiful of souls, and I cherish the love and laughter we shared so very long ago.

Pisamai "Tuk" Chapman

July 18, 2017

Dear Sam,

I grieve about the loss of our beloved Robert S. Chapman.I can't imagine how you are going through this tough moment. Just always remember that I am here for you each time you need me. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sam will be loved and missed forever!!

Much love,

Tuk Chapman

July 16, 2017

My dear friend Chaz Chapman, ongoing source of the most joyful laughter of my whole life from our elementary school days in Darien through his online blog to our Skypes to and from Bangkok as we delved equally into the asininities in the world and the hilarity of asininity. Writhing around in pants-wetting laughter with Chaz has above all sustained my own life of "quiet desperation" (as Thoreau put it).

My deepest love and condolence to Chaz's family including with his dear Ruth and Kim, their late mother Joy Chapman who also contributed sustenance to my soul when I needed it.

We were blessed to live with him.

Sam Kilbourn, Freeport, Maine

Betsy Hackney

July 7, 2017

I have fond memories of the large Thanksgiving potluck dinners at Sam's home in Chapel Hill.

Alice Joyce

June 20, 2017

Sam Chapman was a solid and steady friend to many in the Chapel Hill area for a long time when we were young. He is more firmly lodged in my memory than I knew before learning the sad news of his death. He was a fine and talented person, an elegant man, and I'm sad that he is gone.

June 18, 2017

I knew Sam in the '70s in Chatham County and Chapel Hill, NC and canoed with him and others. He was a man to be remembered and respected; a fine person and real human being.
John Hill Parker, Raleigh, NC

John Curry

June 18, 2017

Very Sorry to learn of the passing of my long time friend Sam Chapman. I first met him at the Union Grove Fiddlers Convention in the 70s to which he had been invited by Our mutual friend Billy Clark. After he moved to Chapel Hill we socialized frequently including several instances when he sponsored large group Thanksgiving dinners. Though never boastful, he was not reluctant to entertain with his exceptional guitar and piano skills. We lost touch after he
moved to Thailand though I thought of him often. It was a great privilege to have known him. My sympathy to his family.

Jonathan Marks

June 18, 2017

My wise mother often said that the best life is a llfe of service. Sam Chapman lived by that truth. He made a difference.

Eve Endicott

June 17, 2017

I was very sorry to hear of the death of Sam Chapman and send my heartfelt condolences to his family. I only met Sam once, when he was marooned in Brooklyn by a blizzard. His was a restless intelligence and a keen wit. He lived a worthwhile life, in recent years passing on his scientific knowledge to the next generation. As his sister said, he bore his long illness bravely. How fortunate he was to have such a devoted sister, my friend, who regularly gave up her vacations to travel the long distance to be with him. And how lucky he was to have a loving, constant companion. May he rest in peace.

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