Frederick P. LaChapelle age 79 of Canton passed away surrounded by his loving family on May 1, 2022 due to Glioblastoma brain tumor. Beloved husband of Ann T. (Doorakian) whom he fell in love with at first sight in 1957, they shared 56 years of marriage. Son of the late Frederick E. and Josephine M. (Conte) LaChapelle. Father of Jason M. “Jazoon” LaChapelle of Canton, Eric A. “Swick” LaChapelle of Richmond, VA, Kevin J. “Special K” LaChapelle of Corvalis, OR, and Jaclyn C. Holden and her husband Matthew of Mendon. Grandfather of Alexandra, Samuel, Isabella, Rose, and Matthew. Brother of Richard LaChapelle of Goose Creek S.C. Also survived by his cousins Anthony Conte of Beverly, David Conte of Salisbury, Joyce (Conte) Hill of Beverly, Cheryl (Conte) Cropley, Robin Marie Rowen of Oregon, Randall Rowen, several nieces, and nephews.
Fred was born in Beverly, MA and moved with family to Waltham at the age of 8. He graduated from Waltham High School in 1960. In sports, baseball was his “first Love”. An All-Star pitcher in Waltham’s Little League, Pony League, Prep League and Connie Mack League. He was a member of national World Series teams from Waltham that competed in Washington, PA in 1957 and Springfield, IL in 1961. Fred also pitched for Bridgewater State College from 1963 to 1966 the year that he graduated with a BA in History and a minor in English.
Fred began a 36-year teaching career in Hannibal, NY for 2 years and Sharon High School in Massachusetts for 34 Years. He taught numerous classes, grade 9-12 as a member of the History Department. Amongst his most memorable moments as a teacher involved the work done by his students in the Historical Research Seminar. His students were able to donate hand-written letters from Nicola Sacco and Bartlomeo Vanzetti to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. in 1979. Various research classes continued the investigation of the famed Sacco-Vanzetti case for 14 years. Fred also wrote youth baseball columns in the Canton Citizen.
Fred coached JV Baseball for 30 years under the tutelage of famed Varsity Coach Joel B. Peckham. Fred always thought that being a parent, teacher and coach was one of the many greatest experiences a person could ever attain. Fred was also involved in youth sports in Canton. He helped to expand travelling All-Star blue baseball teams and helped found a girls softball league as well. He was instrumental in founding the boys Canton Recreational Basketball League (CRBA) for youth grades 4-9. As the years passed by, Fred often commented on the wondrous enjoyment of being a teacher and coach. “You know, over the years I can remember almost every kid that I had the privilege to work with in the classroom and on the athlete fields…I’ll remember them with love ‘til the day I die!’
A proud member of the KAO fraternity at Bridgewater State College, Fred helped found the “Old Crows”, “a group of retired fraternity brothers who became some of the finest educators at all levels of public education in the Commonwealth!” Their monthly meetings have brought together over 50 brothers at various times from all over the country. “Once a brother, always a brother”.
Grandkids Rose and Matthew gave Fred immense pleasure and love, as well as Alexandra, Samuel and Isabella sharing their activities from Virginia. Fred will be remembered for many things; supporting his children with their paper routes; bowling tournaments; Sunday morning pancakes; drawing cartoon characters; and giving his poodles and husky special rubs and hugs; and lastly delivering Ann’s decorated cakes to friends and family. Fred will be remembered for his love of being a husband, dad, teacher, coach, grandfather and for his kind smile.
Relatives and friends invited to attend a service at the Congregational Church of Canton 1541 Washington St. Canton Friday at 3:00 pm. There will be a period of visitation prior to the service at the church from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Burial private. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Fred can be made to the Congregational Church of Canton 1541 Washington St. Canton, MA 02021, or "ASPCA | American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals https://www.aspca.org/ or please plant a tree in Fred’s memory
click here to donate to ASPCA