How to Write a Eulogy for Your Chairperson - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Writing a eulogy for a chairperson can feel different from writing a tribute for a family member. You are balancing respect for an institutional leader with honest, human stories that show who they were beyond the title. This guide gives a clear plan, real examples you can adapt, and delivery tips that make speaking easier. We explain any terms you might not know and include templates you can fill in and use.

Who this guide is for

This is for anyone asked to speak about a chairperson at a funeral, memorial, board meeting, celebration of life, or an organizational gathering. Maybe you are the vice chair, a longtime board member, an executive director, a colleague, or a young staff member who saw the chairperson as a mentor. Maybe your relationship was warm or maybe it was strictly professional. There are examples for formal corporate settings, nonprofit celebrations, short remarks at a board meeting, and honest pieces for complicated relationships.

What is a eulogy for a chairperson

A eulogy for a chairperson is a short speech that honors the person who led your board or committee. It can include professional accomplishments and personal memories. A eulogy is not an obituary. An obituary is a written notice that gives facts like dates, survivors, and service details. A eulogy is a spoken story that helps listeners remember a person as a whole human being.

Terms you might see

• Chairperson The person who leads a board or committee. Also called the board chair in some organizations.
• Board of directors A group of people who provide oversight and governance for an organization. They set strategy and hold leadership accountable.
• CEO Chief executive officer. The person who runs day to day operations of a company or nonprofit.
• Executive director The senior staff leader in many nonprofits. Similar to a CEO but sometimes a different title depending on the organization.
• Minutes The written record of what was discussed and decided at a board meeting.
• Quorum The minimum number of board members required to make official decisions during a meeting.
• Legacy gift A planned donation to an organization that often comes as part of estate planning after a person dies.
• Succession planning Preparing for transitions in leadership by identifying and training future leaders.

How long should a eulogy for a chairperson be

Keep it focused. Aim for three to seven minutes for a public memorial or funeral speech. If you are speaking at a board meeting the speech can be shorter, one to three minutes. Length matters more for the size of the gathering than for the importance of the person. A crisp two minute tribute can be more meaningful than a long roll call of accomplishments.

Before you start writing

Preparation keeps you calm and keeps the tribute useful for the audience.

• Ask about time and tone Confirm with the family or officiant how long you should speak and whether the event is formal, casual, or celebratory.
• Gather material Pull biographies, board minutes, old emails, speeches, annual reports, photos, and personal memories from colleagues and staff.
• Decide the focus Pick two or three things you want listeners to remember about the chairperson, for example leadership style, a signature project, and a personal habit.
• Check facts Verify names, dates, and titles so your remarks are accurate.
• Talk to family if appropriate Some families appreciate hearing that the chairperson will be honored at an organizational event.

Structure that works

A clear structure helps listeners follow you and helps you stay on track. Use this simple shape.

• Opening Say who you are and your relationship to the chairperson. State why you are speaking.
• Professional life sketch Briefly outline the chairperson s role at the organization and key accomplishments.
• Personal anecdotes Share one or two short stories that reveal character and how they showed up as a leader.
• Impact Describe what their leadership meant to the organization, staff, or board.
• Closing Offer a short goodbye line, an invitation for quiet reflection, or a call to honor their legacy in a specific way.

Writing the opening

The opening should be plain and warm. Avoid long recitals of titles. Start by naming yourself, your role, and your connection to the chairperson. Then say one clear sentence about why you are speaking and what you hope people will take away.

Opening examples

• Hello. I am Priya, vice chair of the board. I am honored to say a few words about our chair, Tom.
• Good afternoon. My name is Marcus and I was the executive director who worked alongside Sandra for seven years. Today we remember her leadership and her laugh.
• Hi. I am Ana, long time board member and friend. I will share one small story that I think captures who she was.

How to write the professional life sketch

The life sketch is not a CV. Focus on the roles and decisions that mattered to the organization. Use plain language and avoid listing every board or committee. Mention years only when relevant. Highlight signature projects or moments that show the chairperson s priorities.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] joined our board in [year] and served as chair from [year] to [year]. During that time they led our campaign to [project], helped hire our executive director, and steered the organization through [challenge].
• [Name] cared about good governance and about people. They insisted on clear minutes, respectful meetings, and that every staff voice be heard when it mattered most.

Anecdotes that matter

Stories make the person real. Choose anecdotes that show a trait you want people to remember. Keep each story short and finish with one sentence that explains why it matters.

Anecdote examples

• At our toughest budget meeting she stood up and said we could trim paper budgets but not programs that supported the most vulnerable. Someone wrote that line on the wall of the office and we still quote it when making hard choices.
• She loved scheduling board dinners the night before big votes. Those dinners often cleared the air and turned arguments into practical plans. She believed relationships made governance possible.
• Once in a storm the office lost power and she brought three boxes of candles from home. She said a meeting is a meeting. We voted by candlelight and somehow made our best decision that day.

Tone and complex relationships

Your relationship with a chairperson might be warm, formal, or complicated. If your relationship was mainly professional be honest about that. If it was close you can share a personal kindness. If it was strained you can acknowledge difficulty with dignity. Avoid airing private grievances in public. Focus on things the organization or community can learn and carry forward.

Examples for complexity

• We did not always agree on direction. She pushed hard and I pushed back. Through that friction we made stronger plans and better decisions for the people we serve.
• Our relationship was friendly but professional. She trusted the staff, and that trust allowed us to take big risks that paid off.
• She could be blunt at times. That bluntness cut through meetings and made us clearer about what mattered. We learned to hear the intention behind the directness.

Using humor the right way

Humor can lighten the room. Use small, earned jokes that reveal character rather than embarrass anyone. Avoid mocking or jokes about internal politics. Test humor with a trusted colleague if you are unsure.

Safe humor examples

• She had a superpower. She could turn any board spreadsheet into a story. We called her the spreadsheet whisperer and she accepted the title with a grin.
• Her calendar had two things blocked every Friday. One was meetings. The other was her nap. She believed in strategic rest and in us taking meetings seriously.

What to avoid in a chairperson eulogy

• Avoid long lists of positions and awards without stories that make those facts meaningful.
• Avoid inside jokes that exclude people who did not know the chairperson well.
• Avoid blaming or public airing of board conflicts that could reopen wounds.
• Avoid generic praise with no specific examples. Specificity gives credibility and warmth.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples that follow the structure above. Replace bracketed text with your details and edit for your voice.

Example 1: Formal corporate chairperson, three to five minute version

Hello. I am Daniel, board member and longtime colleague of Maria. Maria served on this board for fourteen years and as chair for six. Under her stewardship the company completed two major acquisitions, launched our sustainability plan, and steadied operations during a turbulent market. More than her accomplishments she modeled a steady approach to leadership. She asked for clear analysis and then trusted the team to execute.

One memory that captures her is from the year we faced an unexpected regulatory challenge. Maria arrived early to the emergency meeting with a thermos of coffee and a stack of handwritten notes. She did not grandstand. She listened, asked the right third question, and then suggested a path that combined legal caution with bold customer outreach. We followed that plan. Months later customers thanked us for transparency and our brand came through stronger.

Maria demanded excellence but she also checked in on people. She remembered birthdays and career milestones. She mentored younger leaders quietly and effectively. The clarity she brought to meetings and the grace she showed to individuals will remain with us as we move forward.

Please join me in a moment of silence and then in committing to carry forward the standards she set for integrity and care. Thank you.

Example 2: Nonprofit chairperson, celebration of life tone

Hi everyone. I am Noor, executive director. If you met James you knew two things immediately. He loved our mission and he loved our awkward holiday sweater party. He chaired our board for five years and he was relentless about asking one simple question. How does this help the people we serve?

One small story. During a site visit a staff member told James about a girl who used our program and then became a peer mentor. James asked for that girl s photo and wrote a short note to her parents thanking them for trusting us. That moment was typical. He celebrated the people the organization was built for and he never made the work about himself.

He believed in listening more than in telling. He made space for staff ideas and then used his connections to get things done. We are all better because he asked hard questions and loved harder. Today we will plant a tree in his honor behind the community center where kids will sit in shade because of his commitment. Thank you for being here and for holding his memory with us.

Example 3: Short tribute at a board meeting

Good morning. I am Lena, board secretary. I want to say a few words about our chair, Robert. Robert led with curiosity and with an insistence on kindness. He taught us to separate debate from disrespect. In small ways he changed how we speak with one another and in large ways he set a vision we are still following. Many of us have a short memory of his laugh. I will miss it and I know the board will miss his steady voice.

Example 4: Colleague voice with warmth and humor

Hello. I am Amir from the program team. To work with Clare was to work with someone who could read a budget and write a poem. Yes that is true. She could find a funding line item and then write a thank you note that made you feel seen. She loved maps, spreadsheets, and terrible coffee. She called meetings brutalist but she made them humane. We will miss her snacks in the break room and her stubborn optimism.

Example 5: Complicated professional relationship handled with dignity

My name is Rosa. I served with Peter for almost a decade. We disagreed often and we pushed one another. Some meetings were loud. Those moments were hard but they forced us to explain ourselves better and to make clearer choices. In his last year Peter reached out to apologize for a meeting that had left wounds. That apology mattered because it showed growth. I remember the times he listened. I am grateful for those moments and for the lessons of accountability he left us.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to get started. Fill the brackets and then make it sound like you.

Template A: Formal corporate

Hello. I am [Your Name], [role]. [Chairperson s Name] served as chair from [year] to [year]. During that time they [key accomplishment]. One story that sums up their approach is [short story]. They taught us to value [value or trait]. We will honor their memory by [concrete action].

Template B: Nonprofit and community

Hi. I am [Your Name], [role]. [Chairperson s Name] believed deeply in our mission. They pushed us to [project or policy], and they celebrated people who used our services. A memory I keep is [short story]. Their legacy is seen in [tangible outcome]. Thank you for being here and for supporting this work in their name.

Template C: Short board meeting remark

Good morning. I am [Your Name]. I want to say a few words about [Chairperson s Name]. They led with [trait]. I will remember them for [small memory or habit]. Thank you.

Practical tips for delivery

• Print your speech Use large font and double spacing. Paper is easy to manage when emotions run high.
• Use index cards One or two lines per card reduce the chance of losing your place.
• Mark pauses Put brackets where you want to breathe or where the audience will respond. Pauses give you time to regroup.
• Practice out loud Read the eulogy at least three times. Practice tells your throat what to expect.
• Bring water and tissues Keep them close. Sip water slowly if your voice tightens.
• Coordinate with the officiant Confirm who will introduce you and where you will stand. Know whether a microphone is available.
• Keep copies Give a copy to the person managing the program in case they want it printed or archived.

If you think you might break down

Everyone in the room expects emotion. If you feel you will not be able to continue, arrange a backup. Have a friend or colleague seated next to you who can step up and finish a closing sentence. If you need a moment, breathe, look down at your notes, and then continue. Slowing down is often more powerful than trying to rush through grief.

Including readings, poems, or corporate rituals

Short excerpts work best. If you include a corporate ritual such as lighting a candle, presenting a plaque, or a moment of silence, give the audience a one sentence cue so they know what to do. Confirm with family and the officiant that any personal items or rituals are welcome.

Logistics and permissions

• Check with the family before posting a recording online.
• Confirm AV needs with the venue or the funeral director.
• Offer to provide a copy of your remarks for the archive or the program.
• Ask whether donations in memory will be directed to a specific fund and include that information only if the family has approved it.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Chairperson The leader of a board or committee.
• Board of directors People who govern an organization and set its strategic direction.
• CEO Chief executive officer. The person responsible for running the organization day to day.
• Executive director The senior staff leader in many nonprofits. Similar to a CEO in responsibilities.
• Minutes The written record of a meeting.
• Quorum The minimum number of members needed for official decisions at a meeting.
• Legacy gift A donation planned as part of someone s estate.
• Succession planning Preparing future leaders and planning for orderly transitions.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy for a chairperson if I am nervous

Begin with your name and your role with the organization. A simple opening like Hello my name is [Your Name] and I serve as [role] gives the audience context and gives you a moment to breathe. Then say one clear thing you want people to remember about the chairperson. Practice that opening until it feels steady.

What if I do not have personal stories

Focus on the chairperson s impact. You can share a concise professional sketch, mention a signature project, or read a short testimony from staff or community members. Even a short line about how they changed a policy or supported a program is meaningful.

Can I include organizational details like financial achievements

Yes but keep them short and tie them to people. For example say During their tenure we balanced the budget and expanded services for families. Then follow with a story that shows why that financial decision mattered for real people.

How do I handle a complicated relationship with the chairperson

Be honest and dignified. Acknowledge complexity without blaming. You can say something like We did not always agree but I learned from those disagreements and I am grateful for the lessons. Focus on a trait or a lesson that the organization can carry forward.

Is humor appropriate

Yes when it is kind and earned. A light story that highlights the chairperson s quirks can give the room permission to smile. Avoid inside jokes or anything that could embarrass staff or family.

Should I share the eulogy afterwards

Ask family permission first. Many organizations include the text in an archive or send it to staff. If the family agrees you can also record and share the audio with those who could not attend.