tributes to a Legendary President
Many alumni shared memories of former President John Wesley Chandler, who passed away in August a few days shy of his 99th birthday. With their permission we are sharing some of those remembrances:
"President Chandler was old school and therefore an admirable figure to this son of multi-generational agricolae. I remember Julian Gibbs, President of Amherst in the early 80s, asking Pres. Chandler where the monument was located for those brave souls who left town to start Amherst. Without missing a beat, John pointed to the bus stop bench at the head of Spring Street."—Bradley Brigham '85 MA
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"My late mom had an office across the hall from John's in Stetson probably 1978 or '79. She was friends with John and Florence, as well as his admin. My mom died young in 1981. When she became ill, commuting to her home in Petersburg became difficult. John arranged for her to live in a college house for six months until she passed. She worked nearly to the day she died. He then offered to officiate at a memorial service in Thompson. The place was standing room only. His service was special—I still have the recording."—Bob Stanton '68
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"About 10 years ago, the wife of a recently deceased physician friend and colleague asked me if I knew John. She told me that in the early 1950s she and her future husband met in John's religion class at Wake Forest and how much they respected him.
"A few years after this conversation, I saw John at an alumni event and mentioned this to him. 'What is her name?' he asked. 'I don't know her maiden name but her married name is Dee Leroy,' I answered. 'Oh, that would be Dee Howard,' he replied.
"A few weeks later she contacted me with the news that John had sent her a handwritten letter of sympathy and nice memories.
"John was the definition of a wonderful, kind and decent man."—Ron Anderson '58
A service celebrating President Chandler's life will be held in Williamstown in Thompson Memorial Chapel on Saturday, Oct 8.
