Obituary: Norman F. 'Norm' Chapman, 70

The following obituary was provided by Fagan-Quinn Funeral Home.

Norman F. Chapman, also known as Norm, passed away Sunday, Dec. 29. He was 70 years old. He leaves behind his wife of 47 year, Nancy E. (Sovet) Chapman. Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he was the son of the late Norman F. and Margaret Chapman.

After graduating from Brown University, Chapman taught US history in New Hampshire schools for 20 years, retiring in 1985. During that time, he received his master's degree from Dartmouth College.

He had a love for computer technology and developed a computer literacy course, teaching kids and adults how to program. He was invited to develop and teach his literacy program for the University of New Hampshire's School for Lifelong Learning at Lebanon College. After his retirement from teaching, he served as a computer technology coordinator for the school districts in the Dartmouth College region. He was also an advisor to Dartmouth's Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program, as well as, working for TrueBASIC where he was asked to promote BASIC Computer Language and math software products.

He returned to RI where he served as technology director for the Narragansett School District and ran a start-up project to develop and provide internet service for RI's public, private and parochial schools, now known as RI Network for Computer Technology (RINET) serving as executive director. He later served as Director of Academic Technology at Moses Brown and consulted for several RI schools and districts, processing internet and telecommunications grant applications and audits.

For many years, Chapman served on two RI Commissions for the Elderly, the RI Medical Board of Licensure and Discipline and as vice president and president of the RI Retired Teacher's Assoc. He was also executive director for the RI Society for Technology Educators and was involved with politics for many years, volunteering for political campaigns, including presidential campaigns while living in NH.

He and his wife, Nancy, loved to travel in and out of the US. They traveled extensively in Europe and frequently visited their son, Alex S. Chapman in Cornish Flat, NH and their daughter, Susannah M. Slabiniski and her husband, Peter, in Underhill, VT. Besides his wife and children, he is survived by a brother, James F. Chapman of DelRay Beach, FL. He was the brother of the late John H. Chapman and Virginia Unkuski.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday, January 5 at 10 am in St. Thomas More Church, 53 Rockland Street, Narragansett. Burial will be private. Visiting hours respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Hospice & Hospice Care of RI, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 will be appreciated.