Giles L. Chapin

Giles and his twin sister Jane were born in Somerville, MA, and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington D.C. in 1939. “Gi” attended the University of Maryland, prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. As an infantryman with the 100th Division, he fought in the European Theater, and was wounded by enemy mortar fire in France. He received the Purple Heart.

After the war, Gi resumed his education, attending Georgetown College where he received a BS in Foreign Service. In 1948 he joined the Central Intelligence Agency, where he worked until his retirement in 1973. Shortly thereafter, Gi began a separate part-time career as a Thomas Cook travel agent, the better to indulge in his life-long love of travel and ocean cruising. Over the years, he and Jirina cruised around the world on the QEII, one leg at a time.

Gi and Jirina moved to Chatham in 1975, where they quickly became part of the fabric of the community. They were both faithful congregants of Holy Redeemer Church, where Gi was a member of the choir. They were both mainstays of the Coast Guard Auxiliary for decades. In addition to serving as a coxswain patrolling during the season, Gi also served a stint as the “Keeper of the Light,” conducting tours of the lighthouse.

Giles is survived by his sister, Mary Chapin Idle of Colorado Springs, CO, and her husband, Dunning Idle IV, as well as many nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces, all of whom will remember him as a consummate gentleman and great guy.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Redeemer Church on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 10:00 AM.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Giles’ memory to Hospice ([email protected] or VNA of Cape Cod Hospice, 434 Rt. 134 Ste. D3, South Dennis, MA 02660).

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com