Christina Margaret Chandler

Christina Chandler died on March 22 at the age of 68. She was born in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on November 25, 1952, and grew up in the Reno area. She graduated from UNR in 1974 with a B.A. in social service and corrections after having been a work study intern in the Nevada Department of Corrections, and thus began a career devoted to trying to make society better and make it function better. She spent 17 years at the Department of Parole and Probation, where she held several positions, eventually becoming division manager for Court Service Units and the Regional Office. She did everything from screening and training parole officers to aiding in the development of such alternative sentencing programs as the Street Readiness Program.

In 1992, she moved to the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada as Family Court manager, later becoming the Assistant Court Administrator in charge of the Family Division. During her tenure, the number of judges, the staff, and the caseload tripled, and her duties expanded far more than that. She handled the administrative functions that kept the court operating, including overseeing Human Resources, security, and technology. She also did much to coordinate and ease the move into the Family Court complex at Pecos and Bonanza. She lobbied for Family Court at two legislative sessions. More importantly, Christina emphasized the families who came to Family Court. She designed, began, or oversaw several programs that benefited them: The Family Violence Center, the Self-Help Center, the 24-Hour Emergency TPO program, and visitation programs. Her service to the community included serving on the Clark County Criminal Justice Task Force and the board of Family and Child Treatment (FACT), and chairing the Citizens’ Committee on Victim Rights, She once told a reporter, referring to Family Court, “User-friendly is an often overused term. But even our temporary facility is designed to be user-friendly,” and, “What is important is fair play, representing everyone’s interests and balance.” Those words fit perfectly with her beliefs and her commitment to public service.

When Christina retired in 2002, she did not retire. She already had consulted for Washoe County on administrative matters, and she continued to do so for Justice Court in Clark County. Her role in the community included serving on the board of directors of the Diabetic Youth Foundation, two terms as president of the Las Vegas branch of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and adviser to the board for the CASA Foundation. She also ended up co-owning a crafts business, reflecting her love for sewing and collecting vintage items.

Christina is survived by her husband of 36 years, Roy Chandler. They enjoyed traveling together, including to their cabin in southern Utah. She cherished Roy, and they cherished their daughters Denice Chandler-Bassett and Vickie Chandler, her sister Janice Vitale, and her and Roy’s eight grandchildren and five (soon to be six) great grandchildren. Christina also was devoted to her friends, and the feeling was mutual. She had time for everyone, and time to help anyone. A memorial service will be held at the end of summer, 2021.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Diabetes Youth Foundation, an organization Christina was active in throughout her life. They can be reached at https://dyf.org