James Phillip Chandler, II

James Phillip Chandler II was born August 15, 1938 to Isaac Chandler & Lilly Mae Norling Chandler in Bakersfield, California. He was the esteemed patriarch of the Chandler family and beloved husband of Elizabeth Thompson Chandler (Departed). James P. Chandler II was a cherished father of seven children, Elizabeth “Lynne” Chandler (Departed), Dr. James Phillip Chandler III, Isaac Chandler, Dennis Augustine Chandler (Departed), Ruth Rebekah Chandler, Aaron Daniel Pushkin Chandler and David Martin Thompson Chandler. He is also an adored grandfather of eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 

Phillip, as he was known by family and friends, grew up in Bakersfield, California. During his formative years, he was a studious young man who enjoyed reading books, farming, and playing chess. He carried books with him everywhere he went, earning him the nickname of “Booky” from his peers. Phillip was also a fun-loving yo-yo champion who would often entertain family and friends with his talents. Phillip was a quite charming yet serious man who generously supported his immediate and extended family in any way he could.

A gifted academic and seasoned business leader, James Phillip Chandler II, commonly referred to as “Professor Chandler”, received a graduate fellowship to Harvard University in 1970 and in 1971 became a fellow in the Academy of Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences. In 1972, Professor Chandler accepted an appointment as a Faculty Fellow in the Stanford University Engineering Department, followed by an appointment in 1975 as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law. In 1977, Professor Chandler broke new ground when he moved to Washington, D.C. and became the first African American tenured Professor of Law and Director of the Computers in Law Institute at the George Washington University National Law Center, where he remains Professor Emeritus. Concomitant with his academic career, Professor Chandler built a real estate portfolio that included a hotel, office buildings, gas stations and strip mall. 

Professor Chandler spent much of his life advising government officials in the United States and globally in matters of national security. In 1984, his reputation as an authority and leading expert in the field of intellectual property law resulted in a return to Harvard Law School as Visiting Scholar. Since taking Emeritus status from the George Washington University in 1994, Professor Chandler continued the advancement of the study and practice of intellectual property law in the U.S. and internationally, taking on visiting professorships at the University of Colorado in 1997 and Howard University School of Law from 1994-2002.

Professor Chandler is the original author of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 (EEA) and worked closely with the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government in support of the enactment of this legislation. In 2001, he was appointed by President Clinton to the National Infrastructure Assurance Council. 

While Professor Chandler’s achievements in academia and business were exemplary, his greatest accomplishment and source of pride was his family. It was not uncommon to find him with his wife , Elizabeth or children by his side as he traveled the world lecturing at various top universities, agencies, and conferences. He instilled, within each one of his children, several core values including education, resilience, generosity, and forgiveness. 

The lessons he taught his children ingrained within them the notion that anything in life is possible. He encouraged each child to strive to be the best at whatever they took on. The manifestation of these lessons can be seen in the success stories of each one of his children; a daughter, who at the age of 20, became a NASA rocket and satellite scientist, a son who became a leading neurosurgeon, a son who holds leadership position at Amazon, a daughter who is founder and CEO of a human resources solutions firm, a son who is CEO of a cyber security company, and a son who is a senior vice president of business development

On Saturday July 16, 2022 Beloved husband of 60 years to the late Elizabeth Chandler; loving father to James, Isaac, Ruth, Aaron, David and the late Lynne and Dennis. He is also survived by grandchildren Matthew, Maria, Raymond, Donovan, Aaron, Joseph, Blaine, Marielle, and the late David and Jerry; great grandchildren Bailee, Carsynn, and Julio and a host of other relatives and friends.

Friday, July 29, 2022

First Baptist Church of Glenarden

3600 Brightseat Rd. Landover, MD 20785

Visitation:  10:00 am - 11:00 am

Service:  11:00 am

Interment:  Maryland National Cemetery

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Condolences may be expressed on the above Tribute Wall

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