Arthur "Art" Bruce Chapman II

Arthur ‘Art’ Bruce Chapman II, of Sarasota, Florida, passed away on May 12, 2021 at the age of 75, he was born August 3, 1945 in Casper, Wyoming, where his father and grandfather had a construction company. Arthur and family moved to Sarasota in 1951.

Arthur, attended Southside and Saint Martha’s Elementary and Middle schools, at age 8 he contracted polio, a year before the vaccine was available, and had to relearn to walk. Arthur, spent his high school years at the Kentucky Military Institute, the oldest military school in the nation, with campuses in Lyndon, Kentucky & Venice, Florida. He was the First Lieutenant of Company B, on the rifle team with whom they won state championships, and Art came in second place by one shot for the state championship title.

Arthur, received his first pilot’s license at 19, while he was a student at the University of Miami, soon became ATR rated, and had a lifetime love of flying. He was first a crop-duster in Sylacauga, Alabama, for a short period in 1968, from which he survived a horrific plane crash with severe burn injuries. Art flew for Executive Airlines, a commuter airline for several years; before going to work as a real-estate appraiser for his father, Harry Bruce Chapman, the founder of Chapman & Associates Real-Estate Appraisers, founded in 1951 and still in business today. Arthur was president and owner of Chapman & Associates, Inc. from 1980 to 2000, when he retired.

He had a passion for water-skiing, scuba-diving, spear-fishing, sailing, hunting, long motorcycle rides, snow-skiing, kayaking, cycling & travel. He was a man of adventure who loved life, family and friends. He lived a life by example of gratitude, love, acceptance, service, and integrity. Arthur, volunteered at the Sarasota County Jail, where he organized and administered a rehabilitation program for inmates. Arthur, was the scholarship coordinator for the Ray Foundation, Experimental Aircraft Association [EAA] Venice chapter, which annually provides up to $10,000 to deserving youths for their flight training and expenses. A great joy of Art’s was flying with his grandsons and teaching each of them to fly, even allowing the youngest to take the controls, and his eldest grandson Michael is close to earning his private pilot’s license.

He is survived by his loving family daughter Lisa Fay & son-in-law Craig Wagner, daughter Lindsay Chapman & son-in-law Jason Schwager, with four grandsons Michael (16) & Morgan (15) Wagner, Pierce & Nixon (twins 8) Schwager. He is also survived by the mother of his daughters Sheela Chapman Thompson, former spouse Marilyn Chapman, and girlfriend Stephanie Green. Nephews Steven & Scott Chapman.

He is preceded in death by his parents Harry Bruce Chapman & Ora Fay Haskell Chapman, and brother Thomas Hugh Chapman.

A Private Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends, in honor of Arthur Bruce Chapman II.