Claudia Chapman Siders

Mrs. Claudia Chapman Siders, 72, resident of Alachua, Florida, died Friday, September 18, 2015, in the E. T. York Haven Hospice Care Center, following a long illness. Mrs. Siders was born on January 29, 1943 in Jacksonville, Florida to the late Betty McCall Chapman. She grew up in Jacksonville, graduating from Robert E. Lee High School, Class of 1961, and then continuing her education at the University of Florida, where she earned two Bachelor Degrees, two Masters Degrees, and received an Education Specialist Degree. Claudia began a long career as a special education educator in Alachua County, first at the Sidney Lanier School on the campus of the Sunland Training Center, then as a teacher and head of the physical impairment program at Howard Bishop Middle School, and then finishing her career as a teacher at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary in 2009. As an advocate for special education, she began the Gator Invitational Sports Ability Games, giving physically impaired students a chance to compete. She was also very active with Special Olympics. A lifelong athlete, she taught racquetball and aerobics through Santa Fe College. She also taught the “Silver Slippers” class through the Fit for Life Program.She also volunteered teaching aerobics at Al’z Place. She had an extensive involvement with a variety of volunteer work. She was a volunteer with the Friends of Library (FOL). She and her husband were volunteers in the Citizens on Patrol (COP) program with the Gainesville Police Department. Claudia was an avid Florida Gator fan, particularly with the men’s basketball, where she ran the courtside scoreboard for nearly 30 years. She worked, along with her husband, for many years with the Mid-Florida Officials Association, working as a clock operator for high school football. She is survived by her husband 35 years, Ronald Siders; one brother Clifford (Betty Ann) Chapman, of Keystone Heights; three sisters, Diane (Hisham) Antar, and Dani Harrell, both of Jacksonville, and Cassy (Bill) Swain, of Seeley Lake, MT. Numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, cousins and a multitude of wonderful friends survive. Friends are invited to a casual gathering and reception to be held on Sunday, September 27, 2015 from 2 to 4 P. M., in the Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Westarea, 823 NW 143rd St., Newberry. In lieu of flowers,donations should be made to Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation, 5202 Paylor Lane, Sarasota, FL 34240, or to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606.

Claudia Chapman Siders

January 29, 1943 - September 18, 2015