Robert Barry Chapman

Robert Barry Chapman, age 82, was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 10, 2026. He left our world peacefully at Binghamton General Hospital surrounded by his three children, close family members, and friends. He was an incredible father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, businessman, teacher, racecar driver, Navy veteran, welder, and friend.

Robert, affectionately referred to as Bob, was born in Binghamton, New York in February of 1943. He was the son of Robert and Ruth (Blomquist) Chapman and grew up in Vestal. He is survived by his loving sisters and brother, Linda (Douglas) Doolittle, Patricia Dipasquale, and Dennis (Angela) Chapman. Bob was predeceased by his wife Teresa Chapman and was the beloved father to Robert (Christine) Chapman, David (Yan) Chapman, and Julie (Mark) Chapman Gillenwalters. He was blessed with seven grandchildren who were the light of his life: Jacob, Adin, Luke, Amanda, Declan, Max, and Kylie. Bob is also survived by his longtime devoted companion Nicole Rudock.

Bob grew up loving mechanics and all types of sports, from auto racing to hockey. When he was a teenager at Vestal High School, he was an all-star athlete in both football and baseball, and quickly grasped the art of machinery. After graduating, he served in the United States Navy as a master welder and pipe fitter on a military supply ship in East Asia. He would often joke, "I had a girl at every port." After his military service, he returned to Binghamton, fell in love with Teresa, after bumping into her on a ski slope, married her, and started a family.

For more than 30 years, Bob worked as a welding instructor for Broome-Tioga Boces and ran his own welding supply and fire extinguisher business called R.B. Chapman Company. His business grew to include pressure washer sales and service for several major trucking companies. Bob went on to advance his education and earned a bachelor's degree in Applied Trade Technologies from SUNY Oswego.

He was very active in his children's activities, no matter what they were. He was a dedicated hockey and soccer dad, loving the competition and never missing games or dance recitals. He even performed in one as the "November Calendar Girl" in a funny father's dance.

He also helped coach his kids' sports. He built numerous Microds (go-karts) for his kids who raced competitively for years with the Southern Tier Microd Club, competing at tracks across Upstate New York. It was no secret Bob was proud of his kids' achievements and loved to share his pride with anyone who would listen. You couldn't make it two seconds in his house without Bob proudly pulling out his son's NCAA soccer championship ring.

Bob will be remembered for his incredible generosity and he never hesitated when someone needed help. He volunteered cooking every year at the St. Mary of the Assumption Church Bizarre, and he donated and serviced all of the church's fire extinguishers for decades. He also helped his wife Teresa create her own ceramics business, transforming their garage into a classroom, where she taught art classes for more than 30 years.

In his retirement years, Bob built and raced his own IMCA Dirt Modified Class racecar, which he ran at Five-Mile Point Speedway and other local racetracks. He also sponsored several drivers, and provided engines and gas to keep the competition running. You could feel his heart bursting when he won his first checkered flag.

In his later years, Bob enjoyed watching his grandchildren compete in any sport. But he especially enjoyed the hockey games. When he couldn't attend them in person, he would sit glued to a live stream of the game on his TV or tablet.

Bob loved people and people loved him. Bob was fun. Described as a natural salesman with a big heart, his favorite part of his life was just meeting and talking with new people, sharing stories about family, and creating that meaningful human connection. He was instantly likeable, a bit flirtatious, and incredibly charismatic. Bob will be so missed, but we know God is happy to have him back home.

A celebration of Robert B. Chapman's life will take place on Saturday, February 28th at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 37 Fayette Street, Binghamton, New York. The family will be receiving guests at 9am, with a funeral mass at 10am. Immediately following mass, there will be a brief burial service with full military honors for Robert at Calvary Cemetery in Johnson City.