CHANDLER G. KETCHUM

KETCHUM
CHANDLER G.
Age 92, died peacefully on December 20, 2014, at St. Clair Memorial Hospital, Mt. Lebanon. Husband of the late Louise Ketchum; father of Kit (Ginny McCarthy), Carlton (Andrea Matthews Ketchum), Kirk (Mary Hardy Ketchum), and the late Ken (Wendy Lafer) and Craig Ketchum; grandfather to Annabelle, Craig James, Matthew, Sanjana and Sophie, and the late Chandler II; good friend of Elizabeth Donahue; mentor and friend to many more. A WWII veteran of the 9th Army Air Corps, Chan spent the next 69 years as a tireless advocate for peace and justice; locally, nationally and internationally. An innovator in the insurance business, Chan and his business partner, Harold Bigler, pioneered new uses and new delivery systems for personal and business insurance. He challenged many acquaintances, assumptions and audiences with his relentless questioning and pursuit of excellence. Chan traveled the world on business and with Louise for pleasure. In 1984, they traveled to Russia to meet with Jewish refuseniks. Chan was a doer, a starter and a joiner. With the exception of golf, he never quit anything. His unshakable optimism and desire to improve the lives of others, led him to many causes including founding directorship of the Central Blood Bank and Chartiers Mental Health Center. Chan was an active member of both the local and national boards of the World Federalist Association. Other organizations that benefited from Chan's guidance included the Bower Hill Community Church, Pittsburgh AIDS Taskforce, Pittsburgh Junior Chamber of Commerce and St. Clair Hospital. In lieu of flowers, Chan asked that contributions be made to the American Civil Liberties Union or to Global Solutions Pittsburgh, the successor organization to the World Federalists. A celebration of Chandler Ketchum's life will be held on January 10, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at the Bower Hill Community Church, 70 Moffett Street, Mt. Lebanon, PA. Arrangements by BALL FUNERAL CHAPEL, INC.
Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb