Lawrence A. Chandler

Lawrence “Larry” Chandler, whose Laboratory career in the Fire Department and Security Department spanned more than three decades, died July 4 in Eureka, Calif. after a short illness. He was 63.

Chandler attended Castro Valley High School and, after graduating in 1963, joined the U.S. Air Force. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, he worked for World Airways as a mechanic. In 1974, he graduated from Chabot College and then earned his degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s College.

He was hired by LLNL as a firefighter. During his 36 years with the Lab, he worked for 18 years in the Fire Department, eventually becoming assistant fire chief. He then transferred to the LLNL Security Department as Protective Force division leader and then deputy department head, and deputy chief of police.

During this time, he graduated from the FBI Academy in Virginia. During his last years at the Lab, he worked as an assurance manager, although the true love of his career was being a firefighter.

Chandler is remembered by family, friends and colleagues as honest, straight forward and dependable. People who knew him say they always knew where they stood with him and appreciated that he told it like it was. He was devoted to his wife, Karen, and his family and enjoyed being with his friends.

He was well respected at the Lab because of his fairness and his effort to advance others within the organizations in which he worked. Chandler was especially sensitive to women’s battle for fair pay. Sometimes people didn’t know how to take his dry sense of humor, but as they got to know him they would realize what a caring, giving person he was.

After living more than 40 years in Livermore, where he raised his family and coached Little League, he retired to Brookings, Ore. to enjoy his hobbies of fishing and woodworking.

Chandler is survived by his wife, Karen; his children, Bret Chandler and his wife Laurie; Lisa Neely and her husband Dan; Devon Myers, and her husband Aaron; and Jody Hauger; his aunt, Anne McCullough, who raised him like a son; his sister, Judy Herman; and his cousins Bill Barry and Richard Barry; and grandchildren Sean and Kyle Neely, Jonas, Hunter and Tatum Smith, and Kayla and Blake Chandler.

Chandler was preceded in death by his mother, Doris; father, Luke; uncle, Dick Barry; and nephew, Kevin Barry.

A memorial service will be held Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. at Callaghan Mortuary in Livermore with a reception to follow at 3 p.m. at Beeb’s Sports Bar & Grill in Livermore.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chandler’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 7000 Village Parkway, Dublin, CA 94568, or to a charity of choice.