Jeff Chapman Obituary, Death – Jeffrey Mathew Chapman, the third and youngest child of Janet and Paul, was born on May 13, 1973. Jeff grew up with a strong appreciation for outdoors, animals, and family. Jeff was exceptionally intelligent even in his early years. His father enjoys telling the story of Jeff claiming, “I can read when I want to” when he was four years old. Jeff and his mother chose a new kitty to join their already huge collection of four-legged pets as a result of that comment. Jeff’s own family had two Golden Retrievers that he treasured in his adult years, Sadie and Tanna, who was called after the state of Montana.

Jeff had always wanted to visit Montana, a goal he shared with his brother Glen. Later in life, Jeff moved out west to ski the major mountains, and his dream of visiting Montana became a reality. Jeff and his pals would carve their own tracks down the slopes, especially the Grand Targhee, which was their annual favorite. Jeff’s love of skiing was a great passion of his that began when he was very young and led to him becoming a member of the Camden Snow Bowl Ski Patrol. Jeff’s adventurous spirit carried over into the summer camping adventures at South Branch Pond in Baxter State Park. Jeff liked leaping into the icy water at Howe Brook Falls, paddling at South Branch Pond, taking photos, and stargazing at night. Jeff and his father, Paul, also enjoyed flying. In the 1990s, they received flying training with the Owls Head Flying Club. Jeff was even the state’s youngest recorded pilot at the time.

Jeff LOVED and adored his children and was always protective and proud of them. Jeff and his ex-wife, Elaine, bought a house in Dixmont in the early 2000s, and the kids went to Bangor Christian until Sierra started high school. Jeff started his own financial firm in downtown Bangor in 2010, and he and the kids moved to Rockwood to their new home on Moosehead Lake when the kids were in high school. Greenville’s new circle of friends provided new memories for the family, and his former fiancée, Kristie Moss, was instrumental in parenting the children at this period. Jeff planned to expand his financial business to Florida when his youngest child, Alex, graduated from high school. He chose Clearwater Beach as his home and absolutely appreciated everything the beach had to offer. Jeff appreciated the warm weather, festivals, sunsets, biking, and the beautiful Clearwater community. Jeff was generous, kind, bright, witty, sardonic, and unselfish. He was a wise old soul, a true visionary, a deep thinker, an exceptional photographer, writer, and mentor. Jeff adored travel and adventure, and aspired to travel to space one day because of his insatiable fascination with the stars, moon, and universe.

On October 21, 2022, Jeff’s life was tragically snatched by a random act of violence that the family suspects was a hate crime in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Anyone, but especially Jeff, deserved this wicked and evil crime. Jeff was predeceased in 1995 by his devoted mother, Janet. His daughter, Sierra; son, Alex; father and stepmother, Paul and Annie Chapman; brothers, Glen and Jenni Chapman; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, and relatives survive him, as does his “spirit mate,” Lisa Owen.