‘Taskmaster’ Tom Chappell is mourned
By JOHN ZORNOW
jzornow@cgazette.com

PASSING: The town councilman, who died early Wednesday after a long battle with cancer, was a force behind the town/village comprehensive plan.

The community is mourning the loss of Arcadia Town Councilman Tom Chappell, who died early Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 58.

Mr. Chappell died at the House of John hospice in Clifton Springs, where he had been since March 9. He had lived with his wife, Barbara, in a restored former church on Miller Road in the hamlet of Marbletown.

Members of the town, planning and zoning boards said Mr. Chappell was a major force behind the town/village comprehensive plan.

“Without a plan, how do know where we are going?” said Mr. Chappell in 2007.

Thanks to Mr. Chappell and fellow committee members, the plan was finalized and adopted by both the village and town. Sadly, Mr. Chappell was too ill to attend the recent meeting when it was adopted.

“He was a taskmaster,” said Councilman Bruce Nielsen, who served with Mr. Chappell on the comprehensive plan committee. “He was a leader who helped us understand what we needed to do. He always came to meetings well read and the best prepared.”

Nielsen said in Mr. Chappell’s mind, there were no boundaries between town and village.

“He represented the entire town of Arcadia,” he said.

A Democrat, Mr. Chappell was first elected to the Town Board in 2000, narrowly defeating longtime Republican incumbent Mike DeJohn. Chappell previously served as a member of the town Planning Board.

He is survived by his wife Barbara Bilotta-Chappell, son Andrew Chappell, daughter Robin Chappell and brother Robert Chappell.

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