Painting Helped Middletown Man Recover from Cancer

Middletown resident Frank Champine starts nearly every morning with two things – a prayer and a brush painting.

The 69-year-old retired Neshaminy School District social studies teacher picked up brush painting as a hobby during his retirement in September 2003. So far, he has had his work featured throughout a book for patients dealing with illness, cards and on the cover a book written by a local doctor.

Champine picked up brush painting when he was 59 and was just starting to adjust to being retired. It was also around the same time he was diagnosed with a rare case of male breast cancer.

The former eighth-grade teacher discovered the lump in his breast on the first day on the new school year when he sat a home joking with former colleagues. He grabbed the right side of his chest as he laughed and noticed an irregularity.

“I had one brush painting lesson before I found out I had cancer,” he said. “It really helped me get through all the crap that came with chemo.”

Champine was treated and recovered. He said he used brush painting throughout his treatment.

“I used the brush painting to meditate and gain patience.”

It was a bit later when he met up with two old friends – Father John Bohrer and Dr. Joe Stoutzenberger – at famed diner The Dining Car in Northeast Philadelphia. The three knew each other from their time studying religion at a seminary in Blackwood, N.J.

Not too long after, the three began working on their latest book: “Placemat Prayers: Mealtime Blessings, Especially for the Sick.”

The book, put out by Tau Publishing, featured 20 prayers – one for morning, noon and night.

Each page of the book features colorful brush paintings by Champine.

The book was shopped around for more than 2 ½ years before Phoenix-based Tau picked it up and offered to print it in full color, Champine said. Tau had previously picked up printing rights for two of Bohrer’s books.

Champine said he has talked to several people who have read the book during illness and said they all have found it “comforting.”

In the time since Placemat Prayers has come out, Champine’s paintings also appeared on a book by Dr. Beth DuPree.

At Champine’s home in the Flowers Mill community, he works on paintings in a quiet study area. Behind his painting area, a bookshelf with the 1984 Teacher of the Year award he was given during his previous career.

The home he shares with his wife, Christine, features his paintings throughout. The upstairs flex room, dotted with a computer and workout equipment, is what he calls his “gallery” and is decorated with paintings he has created.

Champine said brush painting, which was taught to him by a nun who learned the skill 40 years ago during time she spent in Asia, is a process which builds upon what you already know.

“You never stop learning and growing in this art form,” he said as he showed off some his more recent paintings.

Champine said he recently lead a class that put his skills and experience to work. The class taught cancer patients brush painting and is expected to continue.

“I would have never thought even 15 years ago that I’d be taking up brush painting,” Champine said with slight laugh.

“Placemat Prayers” is available for sale on Amazon.com or during normal business hours at Our Lady of Grace Church on Bellevue Avenue in Penndel.