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
David and Valerie Moore says:
December 10, 2004
Dear Nicole,
I want to thank you for sending out David Chappell’s obituary, It was sent to my mother Joyce and she forwarded it on to me. I am one of David’s Canadian cousins and have kept in touch over the years. David sent my wife Valerie and me a wedding picture of you and Mark and each time we talked he would update us on your news. I know he was very proud of you and Mark.
We will certainly miss David, Valerie and I extend our deepest sympathy to you, Mark and all your family. We saw how much he was loved by his family when we visited David and Stella in Hawaii and we know you will miss him terribly. My Father passed away at almost the same age as David and I felt cheated at the time so I have some idea as to how Mark feels. I am a sailor and I felt that the captain of my ship was gone but you can tell Mark that time does help you deal with the loss but I still wish he was here to talk to.
David Chappell’s accomplishments in life were many, his intellect and insight always amazed me and I always wished when he visited that he had more time to spend with us. I quickly realized that everyone must feel the same way and that he was torn in many directions by all who knew and loved him. He was truly a gentleman who has made his mark on the world. He always called Valerie and me kindred spirits and we treasured that.
Valerie and I both wish we could attend the service to celebrate his life on Saturday. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you all.
David and Valerie Moore
Frank M. Tedesco says:
December 10, 2004
Dear Stella, all David’s kids, colleagues, students and dharma mates and friends,
David and I resided thousands of miles from each other since we first met in Hawaii in the 90s yet it was always a joy and and a blessing to share time with him at conferences and prolonged- very prolonged- telephone conversations! His encouraging voice was always there when I needed his advice, whether it be from Korea or Florida. He was a guide, a bridge, a lamp, a refuge, a joking buddy-sattva in this life. I am sure he will be continuing his good deeds in future lives, humbly, happily and always there with a smile! He actually laughed at my jokes and tempered my all too cynical humor with a chuckle and conspiratorial wink. How many times did we sit on our hotel beds laughing late into the night like school kids at a sleepover at one AAR event or another! How we laughed at life and suffering together! With whom will I review the drama now?
Be well, be well, be well..dear David…into the Clear Light…Gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi! svaha!
…Aloha and Amen.
Jinwol says:
December 10, 2004
Dear Stella and family,
I stand with you and share your grief. You have been in my mind and prayer for being in peace. I could not describe how much miss him. He would be remembered forever. I believe he will be reborn in Pure Land and come again to us in future. We should keep his compassionate and enlightening spirit of Bodhisattva for the world. My deepest condolences.
John and Wava Bidulock says:
December 10, 2004
Hi Aunt Beth:
Wava and I would like to extend our support, thoughts, and prayers to you, Cindy, Mark, and families during this time of loss. The passing on of a loved one is always a hard road to follow but with the love and support of friends and family; we hope your journey will have the least amount of obstacles and will be paved with fond memories all of the way.
We will always remember Uncle David as the smiling GREAT UNCLE who took time from his commitments to meet with us for lunch and then invited us to join him and his students to tour the different religious temples in Hawaii. Not only did we see things that most visitors miss but we had the most educated and entertaining guide in the world – our Uncle David.
Hawaii is a great place, but to us it was the greatest since we have family there that went out of their way to help us create some of the fondest memories of our lives and that is something that we will always cherish!!! Thank you Aunt Beth and Uncle Dan.
With all our love and thoughts, Wava and John
Miriam Levering says:
December 10, 2004
Dear Stella and family,
I have known David a long time as a colleague in the field of Chinese Buddhism. More recently I have known him through the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies. David has always been a wonderful colleague and friend. Like all his friends and colleagues, I had counted on knowing him and sharing things with him for many more years. David has done some first-rate scholarly work, from which I have benefitted. But more than that, I think of David as a builder of bridges of connection and understanding among different faiths, religious groups, and academic enclaves. I miss him terribly.