Donald Morgan Chapman

Retired Commander Donald M. Chapman, USCG, age 99, entered into rest April 22, 2025 at his residence at The Blake of Kingsport, Tennessee. He was a native of New London, Connecticut and lived in Kingsport for the past 20 years.

Donald had a larger-than-life personality making friends wherever he went. He loved a big hug and announced himself as either “sweet and lovable” or “grumpy, grouchy, and irascible.” His favorite pastime was listening to Boston Red Sox games on the radio or watching their games on TV.

Donald graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1948 and served 20 years in the USCG before retiring in 1968. He was the star of the USCG soccer team and a member of the Cadet Dance Band where his vocal and mandolin performances took center stage. During his tenure in the Coast Guard, he served aboard or as “Skipper“ of 8 ships. He was selected as the USCG attaché in Washington D.C. He served as the aide to Connecticut Governor John Dempsey during the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. After retiring from the Coast Guard, he worked as a stockbroker and investment counselor for five years before joining the Urban Mass Transportation Administration of the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) under Elizabeth Dole in Washington D.C. He retired from USDOT in 1986.

Donald was a member of the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut. He was elected to the Mohegan Tribal Council in 2000 and served as Treasurer for four years before retiring at the age of 79. During this time, he also served as the Treasurer of the Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut, now operating as the Center for Hospice Care | Hartford HealthCare at Home.

P. Dudley Chapman, his father, and Mildred M. Chapman, his mother, both of Waterford, CT, passed away in 1989 at the ages of 90 and 88, respectively.

Helen W. Chapman, the love of his life and wife of 62 years, passed away in Kingsport in 2011 at the age of 85. Don and Helen loved to dance and would jump at any chance to go dancing.

Survivors include daughter Debra Taylor-Hunter of Charlotte, NC and her husband Jack Hunter, late son Donald M. Chapman II’s wife Holly of Tucson, AZ, son R. Scott Chapman of Liberty Hill, TX, four grandchildren Jeffrey Taylor, Julia T. Hart, Matthew Chapman, Christopher Chapman, and five great-grandchildren.

We would like to recognize The Blake of Kingsport for providing exceptional care for Donald during his five years of residence there as well as the Gentiva Hospice nurses, Hannah and Erin, for their loving professionalism in caring for him over the past year.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday June 21, 2025, at 11:00 AM in Connecticut on the Mohegan Tribal Burial Grounds. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following hospice:

Hospice of Southeast Connecticut

227 Dunham Street

Norwich, CT 06360