Alexander Rea Chamberlin Jr.

Alexander Rea Chamberlin Jr. passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on the morning of Monday, December 23, 2024, after a courageous and unwavering battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). He was 78 years old. Throughout his illness, Alex faced each day with resilience, optimism, and a tenacious spirit.

A longtime resident of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and more recently of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Alex was born on October 25, 1946, in Westchester, Pennsylvania, to parents Alexander Rea Chamberlin and Mary Elizabeth (Stowe) Chamberlin, who predeceased him. He graduated from Black Creek Township High School in 1964 and earned his degree in Business from Franklin & Marshall College in 1969. During his time at F&M, Alex obtained his radio broadcaster’s license and proudly managed the college radio station.

After college, Alex moved to Philadelphia, where he began his career at Provident National Bank. His entrepreneurial spirit soon led him to pursue his passion for real estate, eventually founding and successfully running his own business for over 40 years.

Known for his upbeat energy and genuine kindness, Alex was a devoted family man who cherished time with his loved ones. A doting father and grandfather, he was present for every school play, sporting event, and milestone moment, always with a camcorder in hand. He made friends wherever he went and never missed an opportunity to give assistance or a leg up to anyone he could help.

He found joy and satisfaction in his work, often immersing himself in business dealings, and always ready to roll up his sleeves to explore crawl spaces or delve into the details of plumbing and electrical systems in buildings across Philadelphia, continuing to work right up until his passing. His deep knowledge of the city's roads and alleyways made him a master at navigating traffic. In his leisure time, Alex enjoyed tending to his houseplants, staying current with the news, listening to music, watching movies and spending quality time with his wife, Gretchen, visiting local museums and attending concerts.

A proud third-generation member of the Union League of Philadelphia, Alex embraced the values of community and tradition. He was active in several affinity clubs and served on a variety of committees over the years.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Gretchen Chamberlin; his daughters, Emily Chamberlin (David Katz-Doft) and Gillian Chamberlin (Alex R. Bothwell); and his grandchildren, Sophia Katz, Isaac Katz, Luca Bothwell, and Oliver Bothwell, whom he adored. Alex is also survived by his sisters, Lyn Chamberlin Jackson and Elizabeth Quinn (Laurence), as well as in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Alex's warmth, generosity, and passion for life will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Alex’s memory to the Leukemia and MDS Research Fund at Penn Medicine. Donations can be made online https://giving.apps.upenn.edu/fund?program=MED&fund=840880 or by check mailed to: 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Alex participated in clinical trials at Penn Medicine during his leukemia treatment. Though he knew he might not live to see a cure for AML, he found solace in contributing to the advancement of research that could one day lead to a breakthrough.