Norman B. Chaplin, Jr.

Norman Bradford Chaplin, Jr., of Nokomis, passed from this life peacefully holding the hand of his beloved wife on Sunday morning, September 21, 2014, at the age of 64. Norm spent the last years of his life suffering from a rare form of dementia. It was a devastating diagnosis that he nonetheless bore with characteristic courage and grace. Norm was born and raised in Weymouth, Mass., and moved to the Sarasota area in 1976 with his small airplane and sailboat in tow. From a young age, he had been devoted to aviation, and always recalled with fondness the four years he spent serving as a flight captain for Orion P-2's in the U.S. Navy. He subsequently worked in the building trades, both as a private remodeling contractor in Venice and as a woodworker at Forest Products in Sarasota. He always took great pride in his craftsmanship, and used his work as an avenue to care for his wider community and the people in it. During the years of his illness, he exhibited the same pride and dedication as a grocery bagger for Publix in Pinebrook Village. People who knew him over the years will remember his affection for the game of basketball, which he was able to play with remarkable skill up until the last months of his life. There was very little he enjoyed more than involving young people in the art of the game-always emphasizing the importance of the extra pass!-and he never missed a chance to share his childhood memories of the Boston Celtics' dynasty. Norm was also a devoted member of Auburn Road Presbyterian Church in Venice, where he served as a deacon for many years. He could be counted on to arrive bright and early every Sunday morning to make sure cookies and coffee were ready to go. Norm was a man of abiding faith, a faith he inhabited not only in word but overwhelmingly in deed. He had the remarkable ability to see holiness in ordinary things: plants, animals, and the beautiful Florida sunsets that he never tired of watching. He loved people, especially those who might be more easily overlooked: the elderly, the poor, and young children. He was always ready with a quick smile and a helping hand. He was loved by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Chaplin, of Nokomis; his daughter, Michelle Chaplin Sanchez, and son-in-law, Tim Sanchez, both of Somerville, Mass.; his brother, Richard Chaplin, of Rockland, Mass.; and his sister, Joan Foster, of The Villages, Fla. A memorial service will be held at 4pm on Saturday, September 27th, at Auburn Road Presbyterian Church, 642 N. Auburn Road, Venice, 34292. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Auburn Road Presbyterian Benevolent Fund. Farley Funeral Home in Venice is handling the arrangements. Service Information Date: Saturday, September 27, 2014 Time: 4:00 pm Auburn Road Presbyterian Church-PCA Address: 642 North Auburn Road, , Venice, Florida, 34292 (941) 485-3551 | Map