Jonathan David Chapitis, 75, of East Hartford, lost his valiant battle with cancer on July 19, 2019, with family and friends at his side. Jon was born on September 28, 1943 in Rumford, Maine, the son of the late John Joseph and Ursula Dora (Weliska) Chapitis. He is survived by his sisters, Jane Chapitis of Vermont, Mary Chapitis of Massachusetts and many cousins. Jon was a very gentle, kind and generous person and always up for a challenge. Jon was a long-time resident of East Hartford, attending local schools in East Hartford. He was a graduate of UCONN, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, Jon went to work for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, first for the Instrumentation Group and later for the Engine Controls Group. Retiring after more than 40 years, Jon was very thankful for the many opportunities for travel his career with Pratt & Whitney afforded him. It was not only the travel he enjoyed, but also all the wonderful people he worked with daily, as well as all the people he met during his various assignments. Many of these people have turned into lifelong friends. Jon enjoyed living in his East Hartford community. He always found his neighbors to be friendly and helpful and they made his life pleasant, especially Matthew and Mary Betton. Jon had many interests and could find something in common with almost anyone. He was an avid reader and book collector. Anytime someone mentioned a topic of interest, Jon would say I have a book for you. Jon volunteered for many years at the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair, a fair open to 7th through 12th grade students to attract young people to careers in science and engineering. Jon enjoyed all types of sports. Jon enjoyed target practice and spending time with his friends. He biked often with his friends, participated several times in the Five Boro NYC Bike Tour, cycling on Block Island and around the perimeter of Connecticut. He was involved with basketball: playing it, enjoying UCONN games, as well as being a Time Keeper for AAU and Division 3 games. He especially enjoyed working the Mother’s Day tournament with Jon Stone and Dave Boland. Jon enjoyed going to tag sales, sharing his amazing finds, and of course meeting people and hearing their stories. Jon enjoyed the comforts of driving, the challenge of word jumbles, music, the annual card parties with his P & W friends and attending the annual Gilbert Sullivan play at Academy of Music Theater in Northampton with his P & W friends. Over the last 10 years Jon spent Friday nights with his long-time friends Bill and Phyllis Condel enjoying Phyllis’ cooking and studying the Bible with them. Jon had strong faith and was thankful to Rabbi Ronald Hermann, Chaplain Jeanne and Father Joseph Moonnanappallil for their visits with him during his last days. Jon was deeply moved when hearing that there were many people praying for him during his hospitalization, even people he did not know. Life had come full circle for Jon, as when he heard of anyone having been diagnosed with cancer, he would add them to his daily prayers. While in Hartford Hospital Jon kept a journal, so he could recognize his caregivers on the Hartford Hospital Patient Survey, as he believed many people do not get the recognition they deserved. There were many caregivers that Jon wanted recognized on C8I, CB2, B9stepdown, CB3, Interventional Radiology, BW2R nurses, Radiology CT, Radiology Fluoroscopy and Dialysis, particularly the PCAs and Patient Transporters that were very compassionate in his care. A letter will be written to Hartford Hospital in order to recognize all of them, as Jon wished.
Jon asked that if he had wronged anyone during his lifetime to please forgive him and if anyone thought they had wronged him to please know he has forgiven them. He held no grudges. Jon appreciated all the phone calls from his long-time friends, Bridget Falke, Dina Szela and Su Abrams; he found them encouraging and inspirational. Their visit on his last day was his wish and brought him great comfort. Jon especially wanted to thank Bill and Phyllis Condel, Helen Hincheliff, the Boguszewski family, Annie Pachuka and Tony and Arija Agostino for their support. Lastly, Jon asked that people be kind to one another. Because of Jon’s long time involvement with The Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair, the Jon Chapitis Memorial Award has been established. It will be awarded annually to a deserving student at the Fair. Those wishing to sustain Jon’s memory in this way, should make checks payable to the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair and note on the memo line: “In memory of Jon Chapitis”. Donations should be mailed to the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair, 45 Coles Road, Cromwell, CT 06416.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday (July 30th) at The Community of SS. Isidore and Maria at St. Paul Church, 2577 Main St., Glastonbury, CT 06033. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Monday (July 29th) at D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter St., East Hartford, CT 06118. To share a memory of Jon with his family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.
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