Mr. William Edwin Chapman

“Pete” William Edwin Chapman of Toronto—writer, promoter, marketer, hockey referee, sports enthusiast, father and friend—died at Vermont Square Nursing Home, Toronto on Wednesday, January 20, 2015 from advanced Parkinson’s disease complicated with dementia. He was 76 years old. Pete was born in Toronto on December 8, 1939, to Edwin Wibur (Ted) Chapman and Doris Edwina Neale. From a young age, he was fascinated by sports, probably because his mother was a world-class athlete—a 5’3” guard for the legendary Edmonton Grads who played in the Summer Olympics in 1932 & 36. After his parents divorced, his mother moved the family to Alberta. There, Pete stayed with relatives in High River while his mother resettled with his brother and sister, Randy and Judy in Edmonton. Pete completed high school in Edmonton and earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. While in school, he was an on-air reporter for CFRN Radio and TV, and then was promoted to City News Editor. He refereed top amateur and professional junior hockey during that time which remained a passion of his for most of his life. He worked as an Assistant Public Relations Director with the City of Edmonton and then Labatt’s Alberta Breweries in Edmonton. Labatt’s later moved him to Toronto as Sales Promotion Manager in 1968. Pete’s varied business expertise covered golf, auto racing, sports, automotive aftermarket, marketing and public relations. He obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Toronto. He always kept a keen interest in youth sports. He led junior baseball, hockey and golf teams. Some of these teams and individuals have won provincial and national championships. Pete was director of Marketing for Mosport Park Inc, then purchased Wheelspin News, and was its Publisher and Editor. He established Chapman Communications, a marketing and communications company, in Toronto. Later he was co-owner of Bay Area Golfing, with his wife Cyndy Winkler, in Clarksburg, Ontario where they organized golf tournaments (under the name of the BAGS TOUR) for adults and junior golfers at a number of golf courses and published a popular monthly golf newspaper that was widely circulated in the Georgian Bay area. They sold the business and retired after more than 13 years in this field. Pete loved to play golf and enjoyed most sports on television. He was an avid reader, and an excellent writer. Pete was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease more than 19 years ago. Once he came to terms with the diagnosis, he continued to work, play golf and live life as fully as he could in Canada and the southern United States. In 2003, he participated in a large international study that aimed to find a cure for Parkinson’s. He had a Medtronic pump implanted into his abdomen which infused an enzyme (GDNF) into the putamen of his brain. There were only 8 Canadians in this research trial along with others from Italy, France, the USA and the UK. Prior to undergoing this procedure, Pete went through almost a year of testing and pre-procedure assessments. Disappointingly, the process was halted for all participants after about 6 months because a number of the patients developed antibody/antigens. Following this, Pete was diagnosed with stenosis of both his cervical and lumbar spine requiring separate surgeries on both areas of the spine, and extensive in-house rehabilitation at Lyndhurst Center in Toronto. A lengthy recovery period followed. Pete was transferred to Vermont Square Long Term Care Facility in the summer of 2007 when his care needs increased. Pete is survived by his loving wife of more than 24 years, Cynthia Winkler, of Toronto, his daughter Leigh Chapman; her husband Scott Bryson; son Peter Chapman, stepchildren Jason, Dart, Clayton, Alexander, and Adrianne (all Winkler); grandchildren Stephanie, Tianna, Chance (all Chapman-Paul), Liam Bryson and 13 step-grandchildren; a great-grandson Ethan Buttineau; his former wife, Corinne Chapman; his brother Dr. Randall Chapman; and sister Judy Sivertsen. He was predeceased by his son Bradley John Chapman. At Pete’s request, his body has been donated to the Toronto Western Hospital Movement Disorders Clinic for research on Parkinson’s disease, followed by cremation. No services will be held however a celebration of his life will be held at a later date with family. Condolences may be posted on Pete’s Facebook page under the name (Pete W. E. Chapman), but the family declines flowers and donations. Email messages can be received at petewec@gmail.com and will be reposted on Facebook. Special thanks and acknowledgement are sent out to the loving and caring staff and doctors of Vermont Square, The Movement Disorder Clinic at the Toronto Western Hospital, and the “Dancing with Parkinson’s” organization.

Mr. William Edwin Chapman

January 20, 2016