Thomas Stuart Chapman of Duxbury died peacefully at home on April 11 after an extended illness. He was 85.

He was born on Martha’s Vineyard on May 20, 1934.

He attended Island schools until his sophomore year when he moved to and later graduated from The Darrow Prep School in New Lebanon, N.N. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1958. Later, he earned a master’s degree in education from Boston State College. While an undergraduate he met wife Carol in Wollaston.

Following graduation he began a lifelong career working for the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, where he touched countless lives and made a positive impact on young people throughout the state.

The family eventually settled permanently in Duxbury.

In Tom’s work with the Department of Youth Services, he was named an assistant regional director in 1972. He was elevated to the assistant director of departmental evaluation and case work training coordinator in 1983 and eventually became the assistant director for the Department of Youth Services Training from 1986 until his retirement in 1991.

He was intensely passionate and curious about the world around him. He studied finance, followed the markets daily and offered sage advice to those around him. He was an avid reader, loved to debate politics and often wished he could right every perceived wrong in the world. He was a proud champion of the forgotten, lonely and disenfranchised. An independent thinker, and strong advocate for civil rights, he was always willing to speak up for his beliefs.

He was a longtime member of the Duxbury Men’s Club, Old Colony Club of Plymouth and Hilltop Athletic Association in Kingston. He was active in the town’s senior center, gardening and landscaping there. He helped drive people to appointments, delivered meals, groceries and medications and shoveled walkways. He was twice name volunteer of the year.He loved to be outdoors and spent countless hours working in his yard, playing golf and tennis, and biking with Carol along the Cape Cod Canal. He loved to swim, kayak and go clamming.

His other passions included music of all kind and sports, especially tennis. He also loved to travel, and cared for several family dogs over the years with many walks through the woods and along the beach. In his later years he also took to feeding a virtual forest full of birds and other animals around his yard.

Tom’s love for family and friends ran deep, and his Yankee frugality, tenacious work ethic and lifelong example of helping others were an example for all.

He will be forever loved and sadly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carol Scrivener Chapman of Duxbury; two sons, Eric Chapman of Star, Idaho, and Lance Chapman of Hingham; and daughter Christa Chapman Mente of Omaha, Neb.; as well six grandchildren; siblings Ann Seadale of Barton, Vt., and Mary Helen Smith of Framingham; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Robert and Parker, and sisters Barbara James and Jean Trebby.

Due to the current pandemic conditions, a memorial service will be held at a later time.

Donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders ( www.doctorswithoutborders.org).