Peter Chaplin, dedicated business and community leader and much loved husband, father and grandfather, died quietly at the UHS Senior Living/Residential Health Care Facility at Chenango Memorial Hospital on July 12, 2016.
Peter was born on October 27, 1929 in Montreal, Canada, the son of the late E. Bruce and Kathleen (Whitney) Chaplin. He grew up in Abbotsford, Quebec on the largest family-owned apple orchards in the province. While he was in high school, Peter was active in the Boy Scouts and he was awarded the two highest awards granted in Canada, King Scout and the Order of the Sphinx. He graduated from Trinity College School (Port Hope, Ontario) in 1948 and from McGill University (Montreal) in 1953 with a B.Sc. in Agriculture.
Peter began his business career with Kraft Foods Inc. in 1954, working successfully in Technical, Production, Sales and Marketing positions in Montreal. He was appointed Regional Sales Manager (Chicago) in 1968, and later National Sales Manager. He became Director of Marketing for Kraft’s Industrial Products Division (Memphis) in 1977. He became General Manager of Sheffield Products in 1980 and re-located to Norwich, New York in 1982. He retired as Senior Vice President of the Sheffield Products Division of Quest International in 1992.
Peter received numerous honours for his business and community contributions. He was awarded the Kraft Inc. Jade Ring Award for Product Development in 1978. Kitty Carlisle Hart presented him with the first annual Chenango County Business Arts Enhancement Award in 1989. The Arts Council honored Peter and Sheffield Products for five consecutive years of sponsorship of the Community Christmas Program in 1991. In 1992, he was named the Chenango County Business Volunteer of the year. He was honored by the Boy Scouts of America as the Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 1995. He received the Harry Tecklenburg Leadership award in 2001. In 2015, the Board of Directors of UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital named the hospital boardroom The Chaplin Room, in honor of Peter and his wife Virginia.
Throughout his years in Norwich, Peter was a dedicated community member, and he was particularly active after his retirement. He was the Chair of the Chenango Memorial Hospital Board of Directors from 1992-1996 and again from 2000-2007. Peter and Virginia were responsible for the establishment of the hospital Walk-In Center, which served the community effectively for 17 years from 1996 until 2013, when it was closed.
Peter was also a Director of the NBT Bank NA, President of the Chenango County Council of the Arts, a Trustee of the Chenango Memorial Hospital Foundation, Board Chair of the Pathfinder Village Foundation, Director of the Chenango County Area Corporation and the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Chenango County Economic Advisory Committee, Chair of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Prudential Board of the United Church of Christ, First Congregational, Norwich, and a member of the Leadership Chenango Advisory Committee and the Greater Norwich Local Development Corporation.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Virginia LeDain Chaplin; his two children, Michael Peter (Diane Zelman) and Cynthia Janet (Adam Gordon); five grandchildren, Mira, Saul, and Zane Chaplin, and Landers and LeDain Gordon; his younger sisters Jean K. Chaplin and Meredith Mittelholzer; and his sister-in-law Jean I. Chaplin. His older brothers, Edward and Alfred Chaplin, pre-deceased him.
Peter was a wonderful husband and father, taking a hands-on approach immediately after the birth of his children, and enjoying the growth and development of his grandchildren. Peter particularly enjoyed his years at the cottage at Chenango Lake, a place that was very special to him. He was actively involved in the construction of the log cabin. He loved working on the grounds and in the woods and welcoming his children and grandchildren for lots of summer fun.
His family would like to thank the entire staff of the UHS Senior Living/RHCF Facility at Chenango Memorial Hospital for their dedicated, professional and compassionate loving care. Each staff member made Peter’s final days dignified and meaningful. The family is very grateful, especially to Mrs. Deb Carnachan, Dr. James Simcoe, and all the dedicated members of the “2 South” team.
A service of remembrance to honor Peter’s life will take place Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at the UCC First Congregational Church in Norwich at 11:00 am.
Friends may call at the R.J.Fahy Funeral Home on Monday evening from 5-7 pm.
If you would like to honor Peter’s memory, please make a donation to the Chenango Memorial Hospital Foundation. Peter, with others, was instrumental in re-activating this Foundation which supports the hospital in many ways. Donations may be mailed to the Chenango Memorial Hospital Foundation, 179 North Broad Street, Norwich, NY 13815. Or visit the Chenango Memorial Hospital Foundation homepage on Facebook, and click on the “Donate Now” button.
Funeral arrangements by the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home