Bill Chapman

Bill Chapman, a gentle and kind soul, discovered his two first loves at the age of fourteen while growing up in Coral Gables, Florida. Bill's passion for sailing started when his father bought him a dilapidated 14-foot wooden sailboat. While he meticulously restored its wood, Bill's passion for woodworking ignited, leading him to establish Chapman Woodworks, a thriving wood shop that operated for twenty-two years. Designing, building, and installing beautiful, intricate furniture and built-ins became his treasured craft.

In 2002, Bill's dream of owning a custom-built boat came true with the creation of THE S/V PEREGRINE, a stunning 46-foot cutter sloop with a pilot house, crafted in Taiwan. This vessel became the embodiment of his sailing dreams, and by the age of 74, Bill had amassed fifty years of expertise as a captain. His inviting smile and sense of humor were as captivating as his sailing skills.

Bill liked two kinds of music: ROCK and ROLL. At the age of 60, while jamming out at a local San Diego music festival, he met a vibrant woman by the name of Maria Gates. Although Bill didn't consider himself much of a dancer, he courageously asked if she would dance with him as if he had the, "moves like jagger". He met his third true love and their story together began.

Bill invited Maria to sail the Peregrine into the South pacific and she happily embraced the adventure. At this point, she was not only his soul mate, but his first mate as well to conquer an intimidating 33-day voyage from Puerto Vallarta to the Marquesas islands. From 2012 to 2019, the sea was their home, and their address became "The Pacific Ocean." Their excursions were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading them to settle in Pacific Beach. During and after COVID-19, Bill found joy in fixing up their house, taking road trips, hosting dinner parties, attending concerts, and being an avid reader.

In his 60s, Bill was diagnosed with an aggressive stage 4 esophageal cancer. He fought valiantly and ultimately overcame the disease, but the battle left him with pain and scars. Some that were not always visible to the eye. On June 14 2024, he left behind his beloved partner Maria, her children Matthew, Alexandra, and Dominic, his four siblings and their spouses Barb, Virginia & Tommy, Rick & Patti, and Beverly & Pat, and his nieces and nephews Jenny, Kelly, Colleen, Kristi, Katie, Elizabeth, Rohry, Casey, and Meghan. Bill's legacy of love, craftsmanship, and adventure will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew him.