Obituary of Roy Lloyd Chapman Jr.

Roy L. Chapman

OBITUARY

Roy Lloyd Chapman, Jr., son of The Late Roy Lloyd Chapman, Sr. and Violet Artis Chapman, was born on January 29, 1929. He passed Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

Born in Suffolk, Virginia, Roy moved to Brooklyn, New York, with his mother and two sisters, Almeta and Shands, when he was six years old. He grew up in Brooklyn’s Brownsville section, and attended P.S. 184 and Lew Wallace Junior High School 66. Roy exhibited outstanding athletic talent early on, and he played schoolyard basketball with the Viceroys Basketball Team, and sandlot baseball with the Black Sox Baseball Team.  He attended George Westinghouse Vocational High School, where he played on the Varsity Basketball and Varsity Baseball Teams throughout his years there.

After graduation in June 1948, Roy joined the New York Black Yankees Baseball Team, which was part of the Negro National League.  The league disbanded at the end of 1948, but the Black Yankees continued to play as an independent team, and Roy continued with them until he was drafted into the United States Army. While in the armed services – ever the superb athlete – Roy played on both the Army Basketball Team and the Army Baseball Team.  

Roy was honorably discharged in 1953, and in the fall of that year, he returned to New York as a player/coach with the Viceroys Basketball Team.  He continued in that role until 1959.  It was while he was with the Viceroys that he was given the name “The Chief”. In fact, some of his close friends and sports buddies still call him that.

Roy received numerous commendations and awards for his athletic achievements, including a plaque as “Outstanding Coach of the Year” from the Viceroys.  And, in October 2010, he was inducted into the Brooklyn Athletic Hall of Fame.

After leaving the Viceroys, Roy became an entrepreneur in the restaurant business.  In August 2000, he joined DFA (Duty Free Americas) at John F. Kennedy Airport, and recently retired as a Specialist in Customer Service.

In addition to his parents, Roy is predeceased by his sisters, Almeta Chapman Cobbs and Shands Delois Chapman, his wife, Antoinette Rideout Chapman, and daughter, Michelle Chapman.  He is survived by two sisters: Adrienne and Linda Chapman; and two brothers: Arnold Joseph and Kevin Chapman; a devoted niece Kathleen Cobbs Hoogendam; a special cousin, Jacquelyn Chapman; and other cousins, family members, and friends.  Among his special friends and considered as “close family” is William “Billy” Burgos.

Roy Chapman was a strong willed, loyal, loving friend, who enjoyed people, baseball, and basketball.  He will be deeply missed!

Roy L. Chapman

OBITUARY

Roy Lloyd Chapman, Jr., son of The Late Roy Lloyd Chapman, Sr. and Violet Artis Chapman, was born on January 29, 1929. He passed Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

Born in Suffolk, Virginia, Roy moved to Brooklyn, New York, with his mother and two sisters, Almeta and Shands, when he was six years old. He grew up in Brooklyn’s Brownsville section, and attended P.S. 184 and Lew Wallace Junior High School 66. Roy exhibited outstanding athletic talent early on, and he played schoolyard basketball with the Viceroys Basketball Team, and sandlot baseball with the Black Sox Baseball Team.  He attended George Westinghouse Vocational High School, where he played on the Varsity Basketball and Varsity Baseball Teams throughout his years there.

After graduation in June 1948, Roy joined the New York Black Yankees Baseball Team, which was part of the Negro National League.  The league disbanded at the end of 1948, but the Black Yankees continued to play as an independent team, and Roy continued with them until he was drafted into the United States Army. While in the armed services – ever the superb athlete – Roy played on both the Army Basketball Team and the Army Baseball Team.  

Roy was honorably discharged in 1953, and in the fall of that year, he returned to New York as a player/coach with the Viceroys Basketball Team.  He continued in that role until 1959.  It was while he was with the Viceroys that he was given the name “The Chief”. In fact, some of his close friends and sports buddies still call him that.

Roy received numerous commendations and awards for his athletic achievements, including a plaque as “Outstanding Coach of the Year” from the Viceroys.  And, in October 2010, he was inducted into the Brooklyn Athletic Hall of Fame.

After leaving the Viceroys, Roy became an entrepreneur in the restaurant business.  In August 2000, he joined DFA (Duty Free Americas) at John F. Kennedy Airport, and recently retired as a Specialist in Customer Service.

In addition to his parents, Roy is predeceased by his sisters, Almeta Chapman Cobbs and Shands Delois Chapman, his wife, Antoinette Rideout Chapman, and daughter, Michelle Chapman.  He is survived by two sisters: Adrienne and Linda Chapman; and two brothers: Arnold Joseph and Kevin Chapman; a devoted niece Kathleen Cobbs Hoogendam; a special cousin, Jacquelyn Chapman; and other cousins, family members, and friends.  Among his special friends and considered as “close family” is William “Billy” Burgos.

Roy Chapman was a strong willed, loyal, loving friend, who enjoyed people, baseball, and basketball.  He will be deeply missed!