William Chandler, 76
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — William "Bill" Chandler, 76, of 119 Chantilly Ave., died Monday, April 29, 2013, after a long illness.
Born in Spencer on Nov. 13, 1936, son of Shirley and Miriam Cromack Chandler, he received both his bachelor of science and master's degree in education from then North Adams State College.
He was an Air Force veteran, enlisting after high school and serving until being honorably discharged in 1962.
Mr. Chandler taught various science and computer courses in the community schools before working at Mount Greylock Regional High School, where he spent the majority of his career teaching mathematics.
He was considered creative in his teaching methods and mentored many teachers throughout his career. He developed and taught original curriculum that he brought to various conferences in his field. He served on the board of directors for the Association of Teachers in Mathematics in Western Massachusetts (MathWest) and was program chairman among other titles at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He received many awards in his career, including the Congressional Certificate of Merit in 1984.
He also was an active member of the American Red Cross and helped local families affected by disasters, waking many times in the middle of the night at a moment's notice. He was sent to the Pentagon in the days after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, among other disasters. He received the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate Official Citation for his work after 9/11.
Mr. Chandler was a longtime commercial pilot and instructor, an amateur radio enthusiast, history buff and hiker. A member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, he was very proud of the fact that his grandfather, Amariah, injured during the Battle of Malvern Hill in 1862, once shook hands with Abraham Lincoln.
He leaves his wife, the former Patricia Ryan, whom he married Aug. 15, 1970; two daughters, Julie LeSage and her husband, Paul, of North Adams and Jaime McNeil and her husband, Scott, of Windham, Maine; two sisters, Jane Nicholson of Hudson and Margaret Keirstead of Plympton; four grandchildren, Brodie, Kelby, Rylan and Logan, and nieces and nephews.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A memorial service for Mr. Chandler will be held Thursday, May 2, at 6 p.m. at First Congregational Church.
Calling hours will be held in the church parlors prior to the service from 5 to 6. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association in care of Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, 74 Marshall St, North Adams, MA 01247.