Eugene Joseph Chap, retired physician
Dr. Eugene "Gene" Joseph Chap was born Sept. 1, 1936, in Olean, N.Y. He departed this life Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. His parents were Bennie J. Chap and Sophie Anna (Padlo) Chap, now deceased.
Dr. Chap attended Transfiguration Roman Catholic School, School 7 and Olean High School before attending and graduating from St. Bonaventure University in 1957, graduating summa cum laude. Dr. Chap attended Marquette University School of Medicine in Milwaukee, Wis. (now the Medical College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). He graduated in 1961 as a medical doctor. A rotating internship was done at St. Luke's Presbyterian Hospital (now Rush University Medical Center) from 1961 until 1962, in Chicago, Ill. Dr. Chap then had three years of internal medicine residency at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., and the District of Columbia Hospital, Georgetown Division in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Chap was employed at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center as a physician in the outpatient clinic from 1965 until 1966. He entered the U.S. Army while at Walter Reed in 1966 and was first assigned to Vietnam with the rank of captain, after which he was assigned to the Kenner Army Hospital in Fort Lee, Va. until 1968. While in Vietnam he earned several medals, including the Combat Medics Badge and Commendation Medal.
Following his honorable discharge in 1968, Dr. Chap began private practice in Washington, D.C., and continued for 15 years, before spending the next 15 years as a physician at the World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) until 1998 when he retired. At The World Bank, Dr. Chap oversaw the Medical Service Department Clinic in Washington, D.C., and then served as medical director for a year's interim period. After retirement, he moved from his home in North Chevy Chase, Md., to Rehoboth Beach.
Dr. Chap is survived by his life married partner of 48 years, Randolph C. Smith; along with a few family members of the Padlo and Czaplicki families; and a host of cousins and dear friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 11, at St. Edmond Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
Visit Dr. Chap's Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
