Remembering Sam Chapin

Sam Chapin, longtime member and Chair of the Wildlands Trust Board of Directors, passed away on April 1, 2026, at the age of 75. 

Read Wildlands President Karen Grey’s reflection on Sam’s enduring impact: 

Our beloved board chair, Sam Chapin, will be missed by so many, including myself, our staff, and his fellow board members. 

Sam was on the Wildlands Trust Board for over 23 years, having twice served as board chair, most recently from 2019 to 2026. He was an amazing ambassador for our mission and led the board with integrity, diplomacy, and when needed, a velvet hammer. One of the things I appreciated most about Sam was his support for the Wildlands staff. Sam championed the staff and consistently took the time to communicate kind and positive things he observed in the people working here. 

Sam was a key leader in the Davis-Douglas Farm project to protect this iconic property and to build a new headquarters for Wildlands. He wore multiple hats as the chair of the Building Committee and the co-chair of the Fundraising Committee with Charlotte Russell. His energy and enthusiasm for Davis-Douglas Farm was palpable up until the end. 

Sam’s legacy at Wildlands Trust runs deep. We are grateful for his friendship, commitment, and passion for our work. He will be dearly missed.

For Wildlands’ 50th anniversary in 2023, Sam was honored as one of 50 individuals who have made remarkable contributions to our mission. Revisit Sam’s profile in 50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People: 

Many nonprofits assess potential board members by the depth of their pockets and the size of their Rolodex. However, Wildlands Trust considers first and foremost how a person’s experience will add a new skill or perspective to the board conversation. Our board thrives as a mixed table of farmers, accountants, biologists, lawyers, foresters, and entrepreneurs, all bound by a commitment to protecting land.   

For the past three decades, the task of managing this diverse group has fallen on the capable shoulders of the three most recent board chairs of Wildlands Trust, Sam Chapin, Howard Randall, and Doug Hart. Yet the vast contributions of these individuals go far beyond encouraging all to speak and ensuring all are heard.  

Sam Chapin spent his boyhood summers on the shores of Plymouth’s Lond Pond, where he lives today and where his extended family still gathers each summer. Sam, a career engineer, drove efforts to purchase Davis-Douglas Farm and establish it as the Trust’s new headquarters. As chair of the two working subcommittees focused on fundraising and construction, Sam’s leadership of the Davis-Douglas Farm campaign opened one of the most important chapters in the evolution of Wildlands Trust.

Please also revisit our 2023 video profile of Sam Chapin and past Wildlands Board Chairs Doug Hart and Howard Randall:

Read Sam’s obituary here. We invite you to share your memories of Sam in the comments below.