ROCKPORT — William “Bill” Carl Chapman was born August 4, 1948, in Augusta, the son of Paul Sidelinger Chapman and Gertrude Ida Schaeffer. He died Wednesday, June 1, at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

Bill is survived by his wife of 43 years, Helen Ann Shaw; his sons, William “Will” Paul Shaw-Chapman and Nathaniel “Nate” Eugene Shaw Chapman; his daughter-in-law, Hannah; granddaughters Angela and Elsie; his brother and sister-in-law, John and Patricia Chapman of Cleveland; two nieces and eight nephews.

Bill received his BA in economics from the University of Illinois and his MBA from DePaul University in Chicago. He worked for the Northern Trust Company in Chicago from 1972 until retirement as a vice president of trust systems in 2003.

Following three years with the 12th Special Forces Group, Bill joined the Illinois National Guard serving from 1974 to 1992. He served as executive officer and later commander of the 1st Battalion, 131st Infantry, headquartered in Chicago. He transferred to the Army Reserves in 1992 and joined the 5034 US Army Reserve Forces School as an instructor for the Combined Arms and Services Staff School at Ft. Sheridan; he later served as the commander of the Great Lakes Region, Combined Arms and Services Staff School.

Bill never forgot his home state of Maine and upon retirement moved his family to Rockport to meet is dream of living near the ocean. In 2020 he fulfilled another dream, buying a camp on a lake in Maine’s mountains. Bill was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and was overjoyed to be able to attend the opening game of the 2016 World Series. Bill learned woodworking from his father and had a wood workshop included as part of the addition to their Rockport home.

Bill served the town of Rockport as a member of the Budget Committee and later served nine years on the Select Board (2008-2017) being chair for seven years. He represented Rockport on the board of the Mid-Coast Solid Waste Committee and the Mid-coast Economic Development District where he was the treasurer. At the time of his death he was a member and treasurer of the Rockport Library Committee and a member of Legacy Rockport.

Bill entered Masonry with St. Paul’s Lodge #82 in March 2009; affiliated with Amity Lodge #6 in December 2009. He was Master of Amity Lodge from 2014-2016 and Master of St. Paul’s Lodge from 2016-2017. Bill served as District Ritual Instructor, District #17, from 2018-2019 and District Education Representative, District #17, from 2019 to 2020. From 2020 to 2022 he was District Grand Master and received the title of Right Worshipful.

Bill joined Scottish Rite in May 2010. Since 2016 he served as Rockland Valley Secretary. In 2018 he was presented with the Scottish Rite Meritorious Service Award by the Valley for his dedication and work furthering Scottish Rite Masonry. In 2021 Bill was raised to the 33rd degree of Scottish Rite Masonry. This is the pinnacle of Scottish Rite Freemasonry.

A memorial service was held on June 8. Burial will be at a later date at the Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta.

Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Children’s Dyslexia Center-Bangor, 294 Union Street, Suite 2, Bangor, ME 04401; the Rockport Public Library, PO Box 8, Rockport, ME 04856; and the Neal Peabody Masonic Scholarship c/o Rockport Masonic Center, 361 Main Street, Rockport, ME 04856.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com . Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.