David Wellington Chappell
February 02, 1940 - December 02, 2004
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David Wellington Chappell
February 02, 1940 - December 02, 2004
Obituary
David Wellington Chappell 64
David Wellington Chappell died of heart failure on December 2, 2004 in Laguna Hills, California. He was a well-known teacher-scholar in Buddhist Studies and the principal founder of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies 1987, as well as the founding editor of this Society’s journal, Buddhist-Christian Studies. He received his BA degree from Mount Allison University, his BD from McGill University, and his Ph.D. in history of religions from Yale University. David’s academic specialty was Chinese Buddhist tradition, where he published significant work on the T?ien-t?ai Buddhism, including Buddhist and Taoist Practice in Medieval Chinese Society and T?ien-tai Buddhism: An Outline of the Four-fold Teachings, Buddhist Peace Work: Creating Cultures of Peace, and Unity in Diversity: Hawaii’s Buddhist Communities. He was Emeritus Professor of Religion at the University of Hawaii, where he taught for twenty-eight years, before assuming a position as Professor of Comparative Studies at Soka University of America in 2000. Always interested in balancing scholarship and teaching, David was the recipient of a number of grants in support of his work, including the Hung-Wo and Elizabeth Lao Ching Foundation, the University of Hawaii Institute for Peace, the Japanese Studies Foundation, The Niwano Peace Foundation Tokyo, and the Lilly Foundation. In the last few years of his life he was also actively engaged in Buddhist-Muslim dialogue in Asia, Europe, and North America, working with Dharma Master Hsin Tao, founder of the Museum of World Religions in Taiwan.
David is survived by his wife Stella Chappell, daughters Cindy Rice Las Vegas, Laura Demitria, Gwen Demitria, Jeannie Barnes, and son Mark Chappell California. He is also survived by five grandchildren and his brother, Gordon Chappell Canada.
A celebration of David’s life will be held in Founder’s Hall at Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo, Saturday, December 11, 2004 at 2:00 PM.
The following services will also be held in addition to the service at Soka University:
A service for David will be held at the Honpa Hongwanji Mission, Honolulu, HI, December 27, 2004, at 7 pm.
A Celebration of David’s life will be held during the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies Seventh International Conference at Loyola Marymont University, Los Angeles, CA, June 3-8, 2005.
33 responses to David Wellington Chappell
Joyce Mundee says:
December 9, 2004
Dear Mark, Cindy, Stella & Girls, Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this very sad time. I knew David from the day he was born. He spent many times and visits with us as a very young baby and later as he traveled through New Brunswick to visit his brother, Gordon. We had many long conversations and happy times together. We always looked forward to his visits, and will certainly miss them. When I think of David what comes to mind was his wonderful smile – I will always remember it. May the Lord bless all of you and give you strength for the days ahead. Love to all, your Cousin in Canada, Joyce Mundee
Richard Yoshimachi says:
December 9, 2004
My sincerest condolences and prayer for his repose.
Ruben Habito says:
December 9, 2004
Dear Stella, and family,
Maria and I share your grief and sadness, and will miss David terribly. We will forever be grateful to David for all that he is and all that he did. Thank you for sharing him with all of us all these years, and we will continue to learn from his example, in the ways of wisdom and compassion that he embodied his whole life long.
Heartfelt wishes,
Ruben and Maria Habito
Sharon P. Burch says:
December 9, 2004
David and I met when I helped coordinate the 1987 Buddhist-Christian Conference in Berkeley, and became colleagues in founding the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies at the AAR the following fall. He was a good friend, guide, mentor, and dialogue partner from whom I learned a great deal. I will continue to treasure him for his lively wit and delightful humor for he contributed in lasting ways to my view of the world. I will miss him, and I offer you my condolences at this sad time of loss. Sincerely, Sharon
Valerie Karras says:
December 9, 2004
Dear Stella and family,
I got to know Dave through our participation in the International Buddhist-Christian Theological Encounter, and the festschrift he edited in honor of Sulak Sivaraksa.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciated his contributions to our dialogue. David was one of the warmest, gentlest, and most sincere and passionate people I have ever known. I am so sorry for your loss, but I also know how grateful you are to have had David as such a vital part of your lives.
As we say in Greek, “zoe se sas” — “life to you”.