David W. Chapman

David W. Chapman, son of Joseph I. Chapman and Shirley (Utter) Chapman passed away unexpectedly on August 12, 2026 in his home in St Louis Park, MN. He is survived by his wife Sigrid Hutcheson, brother Stephen Chapman, and Sister Carol Utter, nephews Graham Chapman, Kevin Utter, Brian Maller and Douglas Maller, and nieces Kerry Desberg, Jennifer Lee, Denise McGiver and Colleen Baker.

David and his wife, Sigrid, shared an exceptionally close 48-year relationship. A skilled trip planner, he organized their travels across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Together, they bicycled widely in Scandinavia and along Europe’s rivers, and they spent extended periods living in Malaysia, Oman, and Thailand.

David’s academic career included appointments at Syracuse University, the University of Michigan, the State University of New York at Albany, and the University of Minnesota. He was an internationally recognized scholar and practitioner in international development, working in more than 55 developing countries to help national governments and international organizations shape educational policy, design programs, and evaluate outcomes. He authored, co-authored, or edited more than 125 articles, books, and book chapters, and made significant contributions to educational policy and development worldwide as a consultant and researcher. In recognition of his work, he held the University of Minnesota’s Birkmaier Chair in Educational Leadership and received a Distinguished Teaching Award and a Global Engagement Award. Nationally, he was named an Honorary Fellow of the Comparative and International Education Society.

What David valued most about his career were the relationships he built with outstanding colleagues and graduate students. He respected and appreciated them, and he thrived on collaboration and teamwork. He was kind, thoughtful, and always grateful. As one of his colleagues observed, “It is so like David to want to leave us like a good diver, with as little splash as possible, but he will be missed in so many ways.”

In accordance with David’s wishes no formal service will be held. Memorial gifts in his memory can be made to STEP-St Louis Park Emergency Program, 8812 West Lake St. St Louis Park, MN 55426. Tributes can be shared on the web site of Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels at www.gearty-delmore.com.