Lammot "Chip" duPont Copeland, III
January 31, 1961 ~ May 31, 2020
Lammot (“Chip”) du Pont Copeland III, mountain climber, guitar player, world traveler, foodie, and lover of “The Revivalists,” died on Sunday, May 31st, 2020.
Chip was born in San Francisco, CA on January 31st, 1961 and was raised in Wilmington, DE from an early age. He developed an early love of art, The Grateful Dead, and the outdoors spending several summers exploring the mountains of Wyoming at Teton Valley Ranch Camp and one summer following the Dead on tour.
Chip graduated from George Washington University in 1983 and later received a J.D. from American University. He spent his early career working on the staff in US Senator William Roth’s office. Subsequently, he worked in the burgeoning cellular telephone business as an early employee with Nextel. His love of the outdoors continued, and he spent much time climbing — achieving the peaks of the tallest mountains on 4 continents (Antarctica, South America, Africa and Europe). His love of music continued playing guitar in his band Crazy Chester until very recently, but most would say he was happiest, wherever he was, surrounded by his friends and family.
Chip was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lammot du Pont Copeland, Pamela Cunningham Copeland, Mary Burke Lovering, and Charles Taylor Lovering.
Chip left behind his darling wife Cynthia Z. Stevens Copeland, his treasured three children, George, Henry, and Catherine, as well as his beloved five step-children Calliope, Michael, Evangeline, Stella, and Sam Zarpas. He is also survived by his parents Lammot du Pont Copeland Jr., and Deborah Lovering Copeland, his siblings, Leelee Panno, Charlie Copeland, Carolyn Mauk, and Sandy Macchiarulo, and many much-loved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
As a mountain climber, Chip was always looking to climb over the next peak starting with Static Peak as a teenager in the Tetons, and continuing through most recently to the top of Aconcagua in Argentina and to the top of Mount Vinson in Antarctica. Then he trekked along the journey of pancreatic cancer for three and a half years where he fought for every breath. (He always bragged about his 100% oxygen level during hospital stays.) He has at last climbed his final peak of the tallest mountain, and on this summit he is reunited with God.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Teton Valley Ranch Camp (https://www.tvrcamp.org/foundation/giving-to-tvrc/scholarship-endowment) where Chip was a camper for four summers, and a camp counselor for another summer. Any donation will help share Chip’s love of the mountains and the outdoors with those who wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to dwell in God’s majesty.
Finally, the family asks that you honor Chip by calling your grandparents, writing a love letter, sending a text to your mom or dad, squeezing a hand, kissing a cheek, forgiving someone, telling someone you appreciate, “thank you,” or simply showing your love for those around you in whatever way you do best. Chip would be so happy if there was more love and light in the world in his honor.
Chip was born in San Francisco, CA on January 31st, 1961 and was raised in Wilmington, DE from an early age. He developed an early love of art, The Grateful Dead, and the outdoors spending several summers exploring the mountains of Wyoming at Teton Valley Ranch Camp and one summer following the Dead on tour.
Chip graduated from George Washington University in 1983 and later received a J.D. from American University. He spent his early career working on the staff in US Senator William Roth’s office. Subsequently, he worked in the burgeoning cellular telephone business as an early employee with Nextel. His love of the outdoors continued, and he spent much time climbing — achieving the peaks of the tallest mountains on 4 continents (Antarctica, South America, Africa and Europe). His love of music continued playing guitar in his band Crazy Chester until very recently, but most would say he was happiest, wherever he was, surrounded by his friends and family.
Chip was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lammot du Pont Copeland, Pamela Cunningham Copeland, Mary Burke Lovering, and Charles Taylor Lovering.
Chip left behind his darling wife Cynthia Z. Stevens Copeland, his treasured three children, George, Henry, and Catherine, as well as his beloved five step-children Calliope, Michael, Evangeline, Stella, and Sam Zarpas. He is also survived by his parents Lammot du Pont Copeland Jr., and Deborah Lovering Copeland, his siblings, Leelee Panno, Charlie Copeland, Carolyn Mauk, and Sandy Macchiarulo, and many much-loved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
As a mountain climber, Chip was always looking to climb over the next peak starting with Static Peak as a teenager in the Tetons, and continuing through most recently to the top of Aconcagua in Argentina and to the top of Mount Vinson in Antarctica. Then he trekked along the journey of pancreatic cancer for three and a half years where he fought for every breath. (He always bragged about his 100% oxygen level during hospital stays.) He has at last climbed his final peak of the tallest mountain, and on this summit he is reunited with God.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Teton Valley Ranch Camp (https://www.tvrcamp.org/foundation/giving-to-tvrc/scholarship-endowment) where Chip was a camper for four summers, and a camp counselor for another summer. Any donation will help share Chip’s love of the mountains and the outdoors with those who wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to dwell in God’s majesty.
Finally, the family asks that you honor Chip by calling your grandparents, writing a love letter, sending a text to your mom or dad, squeezing a hand, kissing a cheek, forgiving someone, telling someone you appreciate, “thank you,” or simply showing your love for those around you in whatever way you do best. Chip would be so happy if there was more love and light in the world in his honor.
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Lammot was my go to guy in Legal at WTW. We spent hours on contracts and when I didn’t understand something he always took the time to explain it to me until i got it. Sometimes it took a few times but he was always patient and kind. We often spoke about the outdoors and his love for it. My friend, I will miss you. Rose Gargone
He was such a kind and wonderful person and so adventurous too. We worked together at NII for five years. He was the person I would talk to over morning coffee in his office about work or whatever came to mind. Very laid back, very gentle, incredibly smart, always a funny quip when you talked to him, and he had the best attitude about life and living. He and his sons had started climbing The Seven Summits, one by one, first as a graduation present to each of them and then as a quest. I believe Chip scaled four of the seven with them, including Vinson in Antarctica, Aconcagua in Argentina, Kilimanjaro, and Mont Blanc. His sons have done at least one more together, and no doubt one of his sons will finish all seven.I learned so much from him about life and adventures. I think he must have been the first person to tell me about the Seven Summits – I joked with him that my goal was to visit all 50 states’ LOWEST points – no conditioning or special equipment required. I mean hey I did visit Death Valley already, there is one down right there.I remember him repeating for me the name of the volcano in Iceland that blew its top and halted travel for a while – at the time I was able to say the word too – he jotted it down on a yellow sticky and kept it on his computer.He was a huge music lover. Every summer he and his sons and some friends would descend upon the big concert called Bonnaroo in Tennessee. I think the first years I remember hearing him say that the conditions were more primitive – imagine being in a hot Tennessee summer and watching bands all week long, all day!I will miss him greatly.
Lammot worked with me at WTW. He sat near me at our open concept workspace. He was always smiling and cheerful throughout the last 3 years despite his hardship. He was such a hard worker and I marveled how he managed his job, his family while battling cancer. He raved about his family, kids, new bride, step-kids and his dog. He lived a great life and he will be missed.
I met Chip several years ago when he responded to a Craigslist ad I put up hoping to start a Dad rock band. We bonded over a common love of good music and were quickly off running as the rest of the band lineup was filled in. We played through the good times and then thru the not so good times. His attitude thru the whole time he was being treated for cancer was a source of inspiration for me and the other guys. At regular practices, he was always smiling and laughing and sharing long tales of the many concerts he’d been to even as his body wasted away, and he continued to play his old worn Strat with determination even though his finger tips had lost feeling due to the cancer treatments. I’d never played in a band with another guitarist before Chip, but can’t imagine playing without him. I will miss him dearly. I take solace in the fact that one of our other bandmates – Eric Scheer – passed away a couple years earlier and will no doubt be there to greet Chip with a warm embrace, a shot of Fireball and some southern rock music when he arrives in Heaven.
Finally, the family asks that you honor Chip by calling your grandparents, writing a love letter, sending a text to your mom or dad, squeezing a hand, kissing a cheek, forgiving someone, telling someone you appreciate, “thank you,” or simply showing your love for those around you in whatever way you do best. Chip would be so happy if there was more love and light in the world in his honor.
Warm regards to the extended family. A life well-lived. Danielle & Kevin Sullivan
I worked with Lammot at WTW and he was such a great colleague – he was super nice, always willing to help out, and easy to talk to. Our team down one fantastic person and it’s sad because he was a lot of things to a lot of people. Thinking of you Chip and your loved ones. God bless.