Douglas Kenneth Chapman

Douglas Kenneth Chapman was born in Toronto, Canada on January 10, 1928. He died peacefully in Sarasota, Florida on December 30, 2024. He was the son of Alfred Douglas and Isabela Chapman. He married Doreen E. Chapman (nee Lowe) in 1950 who predeceased him in 1996. In 1998, he married Sharyn E. Chapman (nee Grande). He described her as the love of his life and she provided him with his happiest years.

He was predeceased by his sister, Jean Haley of Victoria, Canada. He is survived by his four children: Laura E. Kohler, New Albany, OH; Dawna L. Bailey (Robert), Victoria, Canada; Kevin D. Chapman (Teresa), Sapphire, NC; Jason P. Grande(Annika), Sarasota, FL. He had eleven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. His faithful dog, Molly, predeceased him by six days.

Mr. Chapman entered the office products industry in 1949 after attending Malvern Collegiate and the University of Toronto. In 1957, he was promoted to Vice President & General Manager of ACCO Canadian Company. In 1966, Mr. Chapman moved to Chicago where he became President of ACCO International Inc. In 1971, he led a management group to acquire the assets of the Company for $12 million dollars in a leveraged buy-out, one of the first in the United States. As Chairman & CEO of ACCO World Corporation he took the Company public in 1983, and the initial public offering raised over $70 million, the market’s second biggest IPO that year. In 1987, the Company merged with American Brands with a transaction valued over $600 million. Mr. Chapman continued for five years as Chairman & CEO, as well as Vice President of American Brands. Under his aegis, annual company sales grew from under one million dollars to well over one billion. During his career he received many honors for industry service. Both the Anti-Defamation League and City of Hope honored him.

He served as President of the Canadian Office Products Association as well as Chairman of the Manufacturer’s Division of the National Office Products Association in Washington, D.C. He served on many boards including Evanston Hospital, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Ringling College of Art and Design and New College.

Mr. Chapman was a philanthropist, having funded the Doreen E. Chapman Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment in Evanston, Illinois in honor of his first wife. He was the founder of the Chapman Charitable Foundation, which provided college scholarships as well as support for hospitals and educational institutions. He also founded La Esperanza, a foundation that was instrumental in providing funds to help build over 4000 homes for maquiladora workers in Nogales, Mexico. In 2019, he established the Sharyn E. Chapman Endowment for the Child Protection Center of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. He also set up endowments for All Faiths Food Bank, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation and North Shore University Healthcare System for the benefit of the Doreen E. Chapman Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment. Recently he provided advice and resources for the building project at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Highlands, NC.

Mr. Chapman enjoyed hard work and the benefits it provided. He traveled worldwide to company facilities and made over ninety trips to the United Kingdom & Europe. He was listed in Who’s Who in 1987. He had homes in Lake Forest, IL; Muskoka, Canada; London, England; Highlands, NC and Sarasota, FL.

Mr. Chapman had varied interests. He devoted time to his wine collection, collecting fine art and Arabian horses. He was an ardent sportsman. He enjoyed bird hunting in the United Kingdom & Europe. In addition to golf activities, he owned classic wooden boats and many classic & exotic cars.

His Clubs included: Scarborough Country Club, Chicago Club, Mid-American Club, North Shore Country Club, Glenview Club, Conway Farms Golf Club, Bob O’Link Golf Club, East India & Public Schools Club, The Carnegie Club, Cullasaja Club, Gator Creek Golf Club, The Field Club and The Oaks Club where he served as the first president.

And finally, he enjoyed his family most of all. He was a mentor, a family historian, a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. He wished to be remembered simply, as a good, honest man.

Any remembrance may support the Sharyn E. Chapman Endowment for the Child Protection Center ℅ The Gulf Coast Foundation, 601 Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34285.