J. Richard Chambers

James Richard Chambers, who was as comfortable in the saddle of a horse as he was in the boardroom of a bank or backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, passed away on February 15, 2022, at the age of seventy-four, in his home in Atlanta, Georgia, of pancreatic cancer.

Richard prayed daily that God would help him live a life of usefulness and purpose that would be an inspiration to others. Certainly, that prayer was answered in full. Richard’s life was filled with accomplishment and service, starting with his devotion to family and faith and extending to his beloved alma mater, the banks he guided, the business clients he counseled, and the communities he helped sustain.

J. Richard Chambers was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the only child of Mary and Clarence Chambers. His father’s service in World War II, at Normandy and in the Battle of Bastogne, undoubtedly influenced Richard’s patriotism and deep love of country. Richard attended Norwood High School in Norwood, Ohio, where he excelled academically and athletically. His abilities on the football field earned him a scholarship to Brown University.

Richard graduated from Brown in 1969 with a degree in Ancient Near Eastern Civilization and was the recipient of the Bishop McVickar Prize in Religious Studies. His lifetime commitment to his alma mater included three terms as a director of the Brown Alumni Board, chairman of the university’s Annual Fund, and five years as National Director of the Brown Alumni School Program. Richard conducted personal interviews every year with prospective students, writing thoughtful assessments, a practice he continued throughout his life. In 50 years, Richard missed only one five-year reunion, and it took a heart attack to keep him away from that one. A dedicated fundraiser, Richard chaired or co-chaired his class gift committee for seven reunions, raising more than $1 million for the class’s 50th reunion. Brown recognized his dedication and contributions with the prestigious Tony Ittleson Award, the Brown Bear Award, and the Alumni Service Award. Richard was also a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

Richard was recognized as a leading authority in banking and financial services and known for his expertise in financial credit algorithms. He began demonstrating those skills early in his professional career in Nashville, Tennessee, where he lived and worked for twenty-five years. His distinguished work in the financial sector included executive positions with Third National Bank of Nashville, National City Bank, Dominion Bank of Middle Tennessee, and Bank of Nashville, which he founded, and later in Atlanta as Vice Chairman of Nuestra Tarjeta de Servicio, Inc. He and partner Tom Ervin (deceased) also founded Music City Money, a financial services provider, which was sold to Check Express. Throughout his career, Richard was an engaged and dedicated investor in community banks from coast to coast, serving conscientiously on many of their boards.

Richard took pride in the role he and the banks with which he was associated had in helping develop Nashville into one of the South’s great cities. Even after moving to Atlanta in 2004, his love and devotion to Nashville never waned. He returned at least once a month to conduct business and maintain cherished friendships.

Richard was a member of the first Leadership Nashville class and an instrumental leader in the Nashville Junior Chamber of Commerce and Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. He was especially proud that during his Junior Chamber presidency (and against strong opposition) he helped pave the way for its first women members. He served on the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency of Nashville for sixteen years as board chairman, commissioner, and committee chairman. Other community service included director roles at the Industrial Development Board of Nashville, St. Thomas Hospital Associate Board, Children’s Hospital of Nashville Board, Nashville Symphony Association, Nashville Institute for the Arts, and Tennessee Bankers Association. In addition, Richard served on the boards of numerous civic, industry, educational, charitable, and political organizations at local, state and national levels.

Nashville was the perfect place for Richard to nurture his love of country music. His connections with recording executives, managers, and artists led to his appointment by the governor to the Tennessee Film, Tape and Recorded Music Commission Board. In his last months of life, he watched Ken Burns’ “Country Music” series countless times, fondly recalling his connection to many of the artists and music executives who were featured.

On September 5, 2004, he and Nancy Lassiter were married, and for the next 17 years Richard devoted his life to Nancy’s happiness. Richard was an excellent cook and a recognized oenophile, talents that complemented the dinner parties he and Nancy hosted. He was a founding member of Chaine des Rotisseurs and a top TripAdvisor reviewer of restaurants and travel destinations, posting approximately one thousand reviews during his lifetime.

Richard and Nancy enjoyed all forms of travel, whether a road trip in rural America or a luxury cruise. His favorite trip was the one he made annually for more than 30 years to the Triangle X Ranch near Moose, Wyoming, where he rode horseback to his favorite points in Grand Teton National Park and was renewed by the beauty of the region and its wealth of wildlife.

Richard exhibited an amazing work ethic, starting at age 11 as a delivery boy for a Cincinnati market. Six decades later, retirement was still not in his plans. He consulted with CEOs and top executives from coast to coast on business and financial strategies until the last weeks of life.

Richard Chambers is survived by his wife, Nancy L. Chambers; sons (with Carol McCoy), Dwight McCoy Chambers, MD, PhD of Boston and Davis McCoy Chambers of Atlanta; stepson Matthew W. Lassiter (Melissa) of Dunwoody, Georgia, and his granddaughters Annabel, Violet, and Clara Lassiter.

The family will receive visitors at Sandy Springs Chapel from 1:00-3:30 p.m. (ET) on February 27, followed by a private interment in Arlington Memorial Cemetery for immediate family. A memorial service in his beloved Nashville will honor Richard on March 5 at 3:30 p.m. (CT), at The Grand Barn at Green Door Gourmet Farms followed by a champagne toast to Richard’s life. Friends and family interested in attending are asked to send contact information to [email protected] to receive more details.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Brown Annual Fund in Richard’s memory.