John R. Chaponis of West Hartford died peacefully in his home on February 21, 2014. He was born March 16, 1932 in Shenandoah, PA the son of John Joseph Chaponis and Anna Elizabeth Chaponis. He attended St. Peter’s in Hartford and graduated from Hartford Public High School in 1950 where he lettered in Basketball. He served in the U.S. Army as a Corporal from 1953 – 1955. After which he attended the Porter School of Tool & Design and the New Britain Teachers College. Early in his career he was employed as a Design Draftsman but later spent the majority of his career as a Construction Steam Fitter. He was an active member of Plumbers Local 76 and Local 777 for 37 years. Additionally, he worked in Real Estate and held a Connecticut Real Estate Broker’s License for many years. He loved all sports but, skiing was his passion. He was rated as an Expert Skier after having graduated from the Killington Vermont Ski School and was a member of the Ski Instructors of America. After undergoing two total knee replacements, he ended his skiing career and took up the game of golf later in life. He regularly walked 36 holes a day and celebrated a hole-in-one in 2006. He was a collector of antique clocks & pocket watches as well as a renowned clocksmith who could repair movements from the 1800’s. He was a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and was frequently found at local auction houses. Upon retirement, he began a decade of reading world history and the biographies of world leaders and always enjoyed political discussion. Watching the University of Connecticut Men’s & Women’s Basketball teams as well as the Boston Celtics was one of his pastimes and he was a faithful member of Rex Sox Nation and attended the 1946 World Series with his father. Seeing the Red Sox win with the World Series in 2004 was a long-awaited victory! He was a lifelong Johnny Cash fan and at the age of 75, he purchased a guitar and taught himself a few chords and began playing Country Music. He loved his five children and was extremely proud of their accomplishments and truly enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his three daughters, Susan A. Chaponis of West Hartford, Karen L. Nappo & her husband William of Avon, and MaryAnn Fox & her husband Jeff of West Hartford, his two sons, Daniel J. Chaponis of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and John J. Chaponis of Colchester, three cherished grandchildren, Summer Rose Chaponis, Riley J. & Aidan T. Fox of West Hartford, and his nephew Robert Chaponis & family of Bethlehem, PA. He was predeceased by his only brother Leonard Chaponis of New Britain. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 28, 2014 at St. Brigid Church, 1088 New Britain Ave, West Hartford. Burial will immediately follow at Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Disabled American Veterans Organization at DAV.org.