Alexander Mansfield Williamson

----Irving Berlin

Alexander Mansfield Williamson, known by family and friends as “Sandy” also known to many as “The Man with the Hat” age 82, of Roswell, Georgia passed away peacefully on January 17, 2022.

Sandy, son of Leonor Mansfield and Archie Williamson, was born on May 10, 1939 in Portland, Oregon. During his early years, his father's line of work took the family both across the country and abroad. Several places during his childhood Sandy called home: Tucson, Arizona; Washington DC; and Godalming, England. In 1949, the Williamson family moved permanently to the leafy suburbs of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Professionally, Sandy was a “Jack of all trades”. After his graduation from Princeton University, Sandy went on to become a hard-working geophysicist, a capable import/export agent, a talented architect, a passionate high school teacher, and an excellent community college instructor. But throughout his life, Sandy's most important and cherished job was fatherhood. And after the passage of time, Sandy was also fortunate enough to take on the role of loving grandfather as well.

Sandy is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Roberta Williamson and their sons Stephen Williamson (Erin) of Maine, Derek Williamson (Darla) of Alabama, daughter Wendy Williamson of Washington, DC, and Sandy and Roberta's three grandchildren up in Maine (Trent, Elana, and Connery). He is also survived by his sister Anita Scales of Arizona and her daughter Elena Williamson of New Jersey. He was predeceased in life by his brother, Christopher Williamson, who has been patiently waiting for him in Heaven.

Sandy formed deep and long-lasting friendships particularly from his early school years and college days. From those connections that he steadfastly nourished, Sandy derived great joy. The bonds proved to have such a positive cumulative effect on his mind throughout his entire days. Alan, Fred, Nick, Ward, David, Ralph, Jim, and so many others both near and far, brightened his life. He immersed himself in their society; in turn they all helped fill up Sandy’s life with adventure, amusement, humor, vigor, and most importantly, kinship. To Sandy, they were like brothers.

Sandy was a man not easily pigeonholed. His life, like his work, was a combination of the exceptional and the ordinary. Though he was a man of unsentimental science, Sandy also possessed the methods and qualities of the most compassionate naturalist. He was an observer and a sharer.

Education above all else mattered; it was indispensable for a person when choosing one’s journey.

Sandy was an outstanding teacher to those both inside and out of the classroom. Lessons taught were not necessarily taken from a book; to those around him he instilled the gifts of patience, kindness, loyalty, and a love of learning.

The Man with the Hat had a perpetual delight in the world around him: a trip to a garden nursery sparked as much enthusiasm as a trip to a botanical garden, a house of history, an ancient castle, a misty fjord, a walking trail and a national park.

Perhaps having grown up in post-war England, Sandy developed a great love of “far off things and battles long ago”. From the ancient Romans to the modern Russia of today and everything in between, Sandy left his mind free and open to receive all the gray and vivid impressions of the world's many civilizations. He was a voracious reader who gobbled up the world like a wide-eyed boy devouring a stack of cookies neatly placed before him on a plate.

And like that wide-eyed boy, Sandy had a great appreciation for the chocolate chip cookie no matter its origin (store bought, fresh from the oven, or pinched from the freezer). His Union Jack roots always prevailed in regards to the cookie; a habit he never broke as Sandy faithfully celebrated Elevenses and tea at 4PM.

As technology developed, Sandy became a web searcher and watcher of films online. It would not be uncommon for him to spend hours watching historic news reels and documentaries on YouTube.

He was most comfortable in (and loved wearing) his flannel as well as his Reyn Spooner Hawaiian print shirts, but to those who travelled in his circle he was best known and recognized for being The Man with the Hat.

There will be a memorial service for Sandy at The Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, 1795 Johnson Ferry Rd in Marietta, Georgia at 11am on February 25, 2022.

In lieu of flowers and for those who wish to make a donation in Sandy’s name, please consider North Fulton Community Charities (“NFCC”) where he was a volunteer in the food pantry for over 10 years. Please go to the NFCC website https://nfcchelp.org/donate/

and under “Options” midway down the page, select “Is your gift a tribute?” and you can leave a comment and classify the gift as “In memory of” Sandy.

Please share your memories or condolences with the family at www.roswellfuneralhome.com. We would like this to become a place where family and friends can smile and remember the impressionable but unassuming gentle man that Sandy was to those around him. We thank you for your time and thoughts.