Obituary of John D Chipman

John D. Chipman February 23, 1952 – March 28, 2021 It is with deep sorrow, that the family of John Douglas Chipman, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and son, announce his passing on Sunday, March 28, 2021 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. John was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on February 23, 1952 to Arthur D. Chipman and Anne M. Chipman. He grew up in Reading, MA with his parents and sister, Carol Chipman, and graduated from Reading High School in 1970. John attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute and was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. He graduated with a Bachelor in Science in Electrical Engineering and a Minor in Nuclear Engineering in 1974. That same summer, John married his college sweetheart, Betsy (Marshall) Chipman. John worked for several engineering firms in the Boston area over the years and continued on with his education. He attained a Masters of Engineering Management from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He was an avid ham radio enthusiast, Sci-fi aficionado, Sheltie and orange tabby cat lover, horticulturist, Cruiser, and phosphorescent rock collector. He was a member of the Boston Mineral Club and enjoyed many weekend trips in search of phosphorescent rocks and florescent minerals. John also had a passion for horticulture and transformed their Chelmsford, MA home yard over the years with daylilies, dogwood trees, and many other plants. John and Betsy enjoyed cruising and traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, California, Canada, the Panama Canal, Bermuda, the Smokey Mountains, and the Caribbean over the years. In 2014, John and Betsy sold their home in Chelmsford, MA and relocated to Fernandina Beach, FL. John enjoyed exploring Florida’s national parks, visiting Cape Canaveral, soaking up the sun at Fort Clinch, and hunting for fossils. John is survived by his wife of 47 years, Betsy; his daughter, Julie Peterson and her husband, Travis (Jacksonville, FL); his son, Scott Chipman and his wife, Joanna, and his grandson, Garrett (New Freedom, PA). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of John and in honor of his neurologist, Dr. Timothy Lucey at Baptist Medical Center Nassau (Baptist Health Foundation, 841 Prudential Drive, Suite 1300, Jacksonville, FL 32207) or his healthcare team at Community Hospice & Palliative Care in Fernandina Beach, FL (Hospice Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257). A private family service will be held.