Donald E. Chambers
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On Friday, February 3, Donald E Chambers, loving father, grandfather, and faithful, fierce friend, passed away peacefully aged 93 years old.
Don was born on Black Friday in Denver Colorado to Jack Chambers and Ruth Swenson. His mother moved all over the US, but he was able to find the love of his life in Omaha NE. He married Mary Anne McKillip and they had three children, Kristin, Jane, and Timothy. He had three grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, and even a great-great grandchild.
Don was a professor at the School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas, specializing in research and policy development. In spite of how dry that sounds, he was in equal measure revered and feared by his students. He considered it his duty to make any organization or group in which he found himself better, whether or not said group considered such improvement necessary.
An avid sailor, Don sallied forth on local lakes, great lakes, and even the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway from Miami to Lake Ontario. Loving the outdoors, he skied, hiked, and hunted.
Throughout his life, Don had an uncanny ability to make good and loyal friends. He thought the secret of making and keeping friends such as he had was that he was able to learn as much from them as they did from him. Participating in the world in all its magnificence and glory, Don spent a lifetime learning all the lessons he could. His family and friends will miss his presence in their lives.
A visitation is set for 2:00 ~ 3:00 om, Monday, February 6, 2023, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, KS, with a memorial service at 3:00 pm.
The family suggests memorials in Don’s name to VNA Hospice or Mary Anne Chambers scholarship fund through KU Endowment and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
To members of Professor Chambers’ family:
I send sincere condolences on your loss and offer a few memories from my year as his research assistant in 1968. Professor Chambers wanted to find ways to place more children in need of adoption. He had a hunch that would happen if caseworkers described to prospective parents a child in need of adoption and asked prospective adoptive parents if they would be interested in adopting that child rather than asking them to describe the characteristics of the child they wanted. His hunch proved correct after the analysis was complete. My role was minor. I was an undergraduate student, and I coded the questionnaire answers. Even so, Professor Chambers — always kind, always teaching — took the time to explain the process as we went along and brief me on the results. I recalled this lesson about how research might positively affect the lives of others into my decades as a university faculty member at Ohio State University. I wanted my research to make a difference just as his had. I also thought of him and reminded myself how much a professor can accomplish through kindness and explanation. I realize that you will miss him and hope that, in time, the memories of his brilliance, dedication, and kindness will be pleasant ones that inspire you as they have me.
Donald, thank you for your wisdom, your mentoring and friendship. Your influence was present in most all that I did in my career. I am deeply grateful. I will miss you.
Sending blessings to Don’s family. May your memories soothe and comfort you during this time of loss and sorrow. Don was a favorite professor when I was in grad school from 1983-1985. He was fire; so spirited about social policy – he significantly impacted the development of my social work foundation – and his infectious teachings remain with me to this day.
In peace, Susan
I was fortunate to have Dr. Chambers as one of my professors when I was at KU, and he was one of my favorites. My father had major surgery when I was in one of his classes and he always asked how he was and how I was doing after he found out about our family’s circumstances. He expected a lot from his students and I also believed he expected much of himself as as academic. I am thankful to have been in his presence during my time at KU.
I’m only 80 but can’t make the trip to send you off. May your journey herein be good. You enriched mine years ago and thank you. Marty O’Neal
Dr Chambers was my favorite professor and made the 7:20 am class most enjoyable. I still smile when I think of his love of Welches Grape soda which he drank faithfully every class until learning it was detrimental to his health….
Though I completed my graduate degree in 1977 at age 25, his teachings made me feel much older and wiser, for which I am very grateful. Loving your profession is a life choice. Thank you for your contributions for mine.
Dr. Chambers was a fantastic professor who made class so interesting. I have often thought about him in the over three decades since I took a couple of classes from him. I am so sorry he is gone, but I am so glad he was on earth so long.
1969-1971 – as a German social worker and Master student at KU – I particularly appreciated his insights concerning the generalist approach to social work and particularly social work policy. I took a special reading course from him and I remember very lively collegial conversations. I loved his wide view and his concrete and practical connections! Our contact lasted and as hobby sailors we both loved ships and the Big Water!
1969-1971 (as a German social worker) I studied in the Masters Program at KU. Don Chambers with a wide and generalist view on social work but particularly on social policy, granted me one of the most interesting reading courses and extremely encouraging conversations beyond the reading. He was – not only in my personal experiences – one of the most inspiring professors concerning a generalist view and at the same time very concrete implications for teaching and practical social work. We kept in contact because we both also loved sailing, the lakes around Lawrence and the very big water!
This was sad news. During my 56 years in Social Work practice and teaching you remained my favorite and very best mentor You were wry, terrific, gentle, demanding and learned. I hope all of us have carried on your many pearls of wisdom.
Over the too long years of my social work practice and teaching, I always fondly remembered Don Chambers as an inspiration in my career. Never forgot the research class I had the fortune to take from him at the KU off-campus MSW program at KU Med Center. Rest well good person.
Grandpa I’m so sorry I wasn’t in your life more I miss you so much
I am grateful for the richness Don Chambers brought to my years at KU.May you rest in peace.
I remember as far back as 6 or 7 yrs old I used to go to my grandpa and pick apples from his orchard and clean his silver spoons. It feels like just yesterday grandpa. I love you so much as soon as I get to heaven I’ll be looking you up. In the mean time I’m gonna miss you terribly
I remember as far back as 6 or 7 yrs old I used to go to my grandpa and pick apples from his orchard and clean his silver spoons. It feels like just yesterday grandpa. I love you so much as soon as I get to heaven I’ll be looking you up. In the mean time I’m gonna miss you terribly
I enjoyed my classes with Dr. Chambers and the foundations for policy and research gained during my student years. I’ve now taught social work policy since 1985 at CSULB and love policy volunteer work now. Having a great professor who can instill love of macro social work and policy has shaped my career. I will always fondly remember Dr. Chambers and his teaching. (Claudia Webb, MSW ’78)
I am saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Chambers. He was one of my favorite professors during my tenure as a SW grad student
1968-70. He instilled in his students the importance of research as the necessary underpinning of the policies of social work practice
we were learning. Rest in peace Dr. Chambers.
Jane & Don’s family:
Wishing you peace at this sad time and hoping you know you’re not alone in your sorrow. Friends and loved ones are lifting you up in prayer now and in the days to come. Peace. As a youngster, I always looked forward to their visits and remember how pleased I was to be a flower girl at Don and Mary Ann’s wedding.
Don was a very special uncle and from the previous comments posted, he must have been an awesome college professor.
I wish I would of met you great grandpa but I hear nothing but wonderful things about you. We are gonna miss you so much. Especially my dad…
Me and my sister love you grandpa we both think about you even though we never met our dad talks of you constantly. Your loved by so many and missed even more GRANDPA CHAMBERS.
You’re going to be missed so much great Grandpa me and my sister here nothing but good things about you and you were loved by so many he’s going to be missed by even more love you great grandpa
Rosy and I wish to say goodbye to a great friend to us and to my mother, Marylee Brochmann. He had great humor and kindness and we will always remember him
I’m so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am deeply saddened to hear of Dr. Chamber’s passing and send my heartfelt condolences to his family. I attended KU School of Social Welfare from ’82 to ’84. Unequivocally, Dr. Chambers was the most compelling professor I experienced as he knew how to motivate and inspire deep thinking on matters of great human significance. Because of him and the seeds of critical thinking he planted so many years ago, my life has been one of lifelong learning with a blend of curiosity and probing all aspects of an issue. God bless Dr. Chambers and his family.
To the family of Don Chambers:
I knew your dad/grandad/great grandad for over 35 years as part of the prayer group. I always appreciated his focus on being a good human being and helping the world be better! He was an inspiration!
Sue Ohlde-Isbell
To Jane and family:
We experienced the joy to be with your Dad during many holiday celebrations at Marylee’s or his home. We learned about his love of sailing, his love of the arts and his paintings, about his shooting a deer on his farm for nourishment during the year, and enjoyed the bird feeders that were always filled and always in great demand by many different birds. Your Dad was a renaissance man who made people feel comfortable and welcome. I am so glad that I could visit frequently until close to the end, and am glad that you could be there, Jane. We loved your Dad and we miss him. Rest in peace, Don. Renate Mai-Dalton, Mike and Celina.
My deepest sympathies to Don’s family. He was a great man with a strong spirit and a curious mind. My dad, Goody Garfield, was Don’s long-time colleague, and he considered Don one of his greatest friends. Their backgrounds were very different from one another, but they both seemed to enjoy the contrasts. They talked about religion and the outdoors and their work, and they seemed to enjoy each other’s company, endlessly. My dad died two years ago, and Don gave a beautiful eulogy in the online celebration of life we organized. I got to spend some time with Don, both as a kid growing up in Lawrence, and then also more recently. He was such a warm and thoughtful person. All who knew him will miss him dearly.