ONeal Washington Chandler Jr.

ONeal (Neal) Washington Chandler, Jr. had a love for life, family and friends. Neal passed away at Atlanta's Northside Hospital on Sunday, April 22, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He will be missed by family and many friends who came to know him as an authentic, intelligent, and compassionate person. He died after a short illness from complications from pneumonia. Born in Augusta , GA in 1935, to ONeal Washington Chandler and Mary Anderson Chandler, he graduated from Tubman Elementary School and Richmond Academy. Neal received an undergraduate degree with a biology major, and a Doctorate of Medicine degree from Emory University. He fulfilled his medical internship at Georgetown Hospital, Washington, D.C., and trained for his residency in Radiology at Emory University Hospital. He also interned at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children London and Boston Children's Hospital. He was a member of the American Board of Radiology.

Neal and a fellow radiologist were asked to establish the first department of Radiology at the new Northside Hospital when it first opened in 1970. Several years later Neal was invited to establish the first Radiology department at Atlanta's Children's Healthcare Hospital.

It was as an undergraduate at Emory that he met his loving wife, Angelyn Adams Sanders, and there they began a journey of great love and friendship. Neal and Angelyn met at Emory's Sigma Chi house. Angelyn became the “Sweetheart of Sigma Chi” and then Neal and Angelyn became sweethearts. Their relationship was one of intense sharing in the arts, all aspects of nature, and many other interests. They traveled widely, beginning with Neal's service as a medical doctor Captain in the United States Air Force, where they were stationed in Japan. Many of the trips that they took were to experience nature on a grand scale whether in the American national parks or abroad. They were married for 57 years.

Neal was keenly interested in science. He loved reading about ecology, evolution, anthropology, and cosmology. He was passionate about sustainability and climate change issues. He was concerned about the fate of the planet Earth and would research in scientific books and journals, compiling his thoughts in essays and papers. It is appropriate that he died on Earth Day. As a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church he often taught courses in science and religion and served as an Elder.

Neal had a life-long interest in art and literature. He wrote poems about his experiences, reflections, and events in his and his family's life. Throughout his life he took photographs as a creative activity, but upon retiring he began taking classes in drawing, ceramics and sculpture, and making art in his studio. Neal had a highly personal approach to art, indicative of a creative mind.

Neal loved his family and delighted in their interests and accomplishments. In addition to his wife, he is survived by: daughters, Angelyn Anderson Chandler of New York, NY; Camilla Chandler Susser of Denver, Colorado; and Celia Chandler Sloan, of Charlotte, North Carolina; sons-in-law, George Edward Kroenert, Shawn Aaron Susser, and Nathan Turner Sloan; and four grandchildren, Aidan ONeal Susser, Chandler Turner Sloan, Claudia ONeal Sloan, and Estella Anderson Sloan. He was predeceased by brothers, Laurie Anderson Chandler and Joseph Garner Chandler.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held Friday, May 11 at 1 p.m., in Dobbs Chapel, Trinity Presbyterian Church Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, donations in Neal's name can be made to the Medical School at Emory University or to a charity of your choice.