My beautiful husband David Roy Chaplin died at home on August 23 after a valiant battle against prostate cancer, a battle he waged since 2006. He was surrounded by loving friends and passed peacefully. He was 69.
David was born in Gardner, Massachusetts on March 14, 1950 and shortly after moved to Portland, Maine which he considered to be his home state. Once out of college with a B.A. in English literature David found himself running book stores, managing the Nickelodeon Theater in downtown Portland and initiating the Portland Library Bookmobile bringing the joy of literature and learning to neighborhoods, retirement homes and wherever it was needed in the community. He captained the championship Portland High School swim team, bringing home a stellar victory in 1968. In August of 2018 the team gathered for a very special reunion and David was able to attend to the great surprise and delight of his teammates.
David moved to Sarasota in 1993 to reunite with me, his college sweetheart, and we lived happily ever after as man and wife. David managed Kingsley’s Book Emporium for several years and later Shakespeare & Company, both on St. Armand’s Circle. He went on to manage Sarasota News and Books on Main and Palm, a popular downtown destination often remembered by locals as a place to read, relax, have a coffee and spend time in a place which felt like a big living room filled with books. Once the store closed, David was hired to create Bookstore1, the premier independent bookseller in Sarasota. He retired a few years ago.
Since his passing on August 23, I have received scores of tributes to my husband, who was known for his kindness, humbleness, leadership and his ability to make the people working for him become the best they could be. His employees grew and thrived under his leadership and training. He was known for his extremely quick wit and his amazing laugh. David was a man of many talents and was often called a Renaissance Man.
He was a sailor, he crewed a 44-foot sailboat across the North Atlantic from Maine to Denmark, he climbed the mountains of Maine, he was a professional drummer playing in Portland and here in Sarasota, he loved to watch his vegetable garden grow, he built a barn with a friend, he wrote poetry and short stories, to name just a few of his many talents and adventures. A few excerpts from friends and family…
“The wonderful, intelligent, patient, David Chaplin is no longer with us and I miss him greatly. He had endured years of illness, yet when he came to see us at the bookstore a couple of months ago, hugging each of us and smiling, he gave no hint of the struggle he was going through. But that was just like David. He was always a calming, warm presence and there it was again…that presence…during that final visit. I am forever indebted to David. It was David who led Bookstore1 into existence with kindness and generosity of spirit. It was David who accomplished this while playing French music that we came to love because it was a sign that David was ‘in the house.’ Thank you, David. I miss you. We all miss you.” Georgia Court, owner Bookstore1
“We all possess some of the better qualities of human behavior…kindness, consideration for others, generosity of spirit, selflessness, and enveloping all these things, a deep and sincere love for others. But when one individual possesses all these in great abundance, and expresses them in ordinary everyday actions as blithely as drinking a cup of coffee, THAT truly defines extraordinary greatness. How fortunate we all have been then to know and be related to one such individual who personified all the above and more, our dear David who after much bravely and stoically borne suffering, has left us. I have been chokingly silent over that loss.” Jerome Schwell, brother-in-law
“David was such a warm, funny, and unabashedly honest person. I loved his stories, his willingness to be silly. The one thing I always told people about him was that he was the only man I ever met so obviously in love with his wife. He used to tell stories about going to France and how everyone was so amazed at your beauty--he was so proud to be with you. I've never met anyone so in love. It was my favorite thing about him. “ Kate Thomas Wood, manager of Bookstore1
“He was a kind, gentle, thoughtful man with a personal strength, toughness, courage, and dignity fighting his disease that few could match. Frankly, I was and am in awe.” Roger Magnus, nephew-in-law
“My uncle David died yesterday, too soon at the age of 69. He was only 10 years older than me, and I looked up to him as something of a big brother. He was smart, funny, adventurous, one of a kind. He always had a way of making me see the world in a new and sharper way. He is sorely missed.” Jonathan Skillings, nephew
“Sarasota News & Books was a chapter we are very proud of, and it was made possible by David’s efforts, his way of shining the light on the wall for those he hired, and for keeping us on top of the things that mattered most. We love that David was always game for a new adventure or a new challenge. David’s work was at the vanguard of the literary lives of countless Sarasotans over many years and have had an impact that will be felt and remembered across generations. We have heard countless stories of Sarasotans' love of SN&B with David at the helm and how much they valued the fun, knowledgeable and welcoming environment he nurtured.” Dick and Caren Lobo, owners of Sarasota News & Books
“All of what I have to say about your dear husband you already know. Dave was kind and humble, which would be a challenge for some with his smarts and good looks but it was natural for Dave. I remember him for his smile, laugh, and kind words. He always made those he encountered feel a little better about themselves, me included. Dave Chaplin will rise to the highest reward there is, whatever that may be, a wonderful person.” Chris Mathisen, classmate and teammate
“I knew Dave from our early years of swimming on the Portland Boys Club team. He was an incredible leader who led by example, always had encouraging words and praise for his teammates and took time to help the younger swimmers develop the skills to allow them to improve. Dave was a loyal friend to all who knew him and always showed kindness and caring to everyone he met. He was the heart and soul of our swim team and a role model for all. His greatest attribute was his modesty and humbleness when it came to taking any credit for accomplishments and the leadership he provided as our captain.”
Lee Crocker, classmate and teammate
My husband made this world a better place.
David is survived by his beloved wife Jenifer Schwell-Chaplin, a sister, Pat Anderson of Long, NC; many nieces , nephews and cousins including Christiana Alejandre of Dedham, MA; Michael Burbank of Auburn, ME; Jonathan Skillings of Marlborough, MA; Mark Skillings of Avon Lake, OH; Linda Skillings Ohl of Worcester, MA; Leanna Burbank Tilley of Apex, NC; Douglas Burbank of Calabash, NC; Scott Chaplin of San Diego, CA; Steve Chaplin of Holden, MA; Martha Chaplin Frink of Newcastle, ME; John Chaplin of New Gloucester, ME and Nancy Chaplin Connolly of Gorham, ME. And numerous cherished in-laws including our niece Ariella Schwell-Magnus of Amherst, MA; our niece Rachel Schwell of Middletown, CT; and two brothers-in-law, Jerome Schwell of Ledyard, CT and Robert Schwell of Portsmouth, NH.
He was predeceased by his parents Harold and Louise Chaplin of Portland, Maine; his sister Denise Skillings of Portland, ME and his brother Bill Chaplin of Marco Island, FL and North Kingston, RI.
Donations may be made in his honor to the National Wildlife Federation. A commemorative bench on the bayfront of Sarasota is being planned.
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