Clifford Arthur "Doc" Chapin

Clifford Arthur "Doc" Chapin, MD, 68, of Columbia, N.H., died on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, doing what he loved: enjoying the peace and quiet of his tiny house on the farm.
Born on Jan. 4, 1958, in New Milford, Connecticut, Doc was the third of five children. He spent his childhood on the family farm, where his entrepreneurial spirit showed early. Whether raising pumpkins and calves, brewing hard cider, or making homemade black raspberry steamed pudding, he found joy in growing, making, and sharing. Later in life, friends and family came to love his specialties, including kalv dans and potato lasagna made completely from ingredients produced on his own farm.
Doc often said that some of the best years of his life were spent at Cornell University, where he attended on a full scholarship and studied animal science, nurturing a lifelong passion for bovine genetics. He later continued his education at Iowa State, worked for Holstein in Brattleboro, Vermont, and taught science at Leland & Gray Union High School in Townshend, Vermont.
At a local community event in Townsend, he met Jorda Daigneault, the mother of his children. They married just four months later and welcomed daughters Logan and Laine before moving to Blacksburg, Virginia, where Doc earned a Master of Science in dairy nutrition. After returning to New England, their family grew with the arrival of three sons: Maxfield, Noah and Asa.
Never content to stop learning, Doc began medical school at the University of Vermont at age 35. After completing his residency at Dartmouth, he spent nearly three decades practicing internal and emergency medicine in Minnesota, Oregon, Alaska, South Dakota, and New Hampshire.
Through it all, Doc’s main passion was his cows. Together with his dear friend Scott DeBlois, he founded Blue Mountain Dairy in Columbia, New Hampshire. The farm was his pride and joy. He delighted in the distinct personalities of his Jersey cows and once said of a favorite named Barbra, "Babs was the smartest cow that ever lived. She was devious and cunning. You have to respect that.”
Doc was predeceased by his parents, Clifford Carter Chapin and Anna Evelyn Chapin of New Milford, Connecticut, and by his beloved Jersey cow, Barbra.
He is survived by his five children; ten grandchildren: Rhys, Axel, Hunter, Lucia, Carter, Kole, Magda, Kyla, Josie, and Abe; his siblings Curtis, Carol, Connie, and Clark; his sisters-in-law Joanne and Patricia; his brother-in-law Philip; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and his close friends Scott and Debbie DeBlois, Carole Ferns, and Mauricio Salcedo Alvarez.
A private family service will be held. A Gathering for Remembrance will take place at 1213 Clark Road in Danville, Vt. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 1 p.m. In accordance with Doc’s wishes, guests are invited to wear or bring their favorite Viking memorabilia and to remember to please support your local farmer.
Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com.