Daniel Chesanow

Daniel Chesanow, 86, of Athens, TN, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and pets on November 14, 2024. Born in Great Barrington, MA, he graduated from Searles High School and earned his degree from Albany College of Pharmacy, continuing a family tradition in healthcare.

After graduation, Dan purchased the Pawling, NY pharmacy where he had interned. But after ten years on his feet, and with a chain pharmacy opening down the street, he decided it was time for his next chapter. Leaving New England, he moved to Columbus, OH, where he graduated from the inaugural class of the master's degree program in hospital administration at The Ohio State University.

Dan's career in hospital administration took him across the country­—­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­from Norwalk, OH, to Marietta, OH, where he met Sheila Silvus, the love of his life. They married in 1982 and lived in many places around the country including Fredonia, NY, Chico, CA, and Elk Grove, CA where he started a business selling mobility scooters. In 2006, they "retired" to Athens, TN, with llamas in tow, where Dan remained as active as ever, refusing to "let the old man in."

Never at a loss for words or stories, Dan had many interests and passions, including racing, flying, and fire trucks—interests which began in his childhood and remained with him throughout his life. By joining the SCCA as a teen, he managed to get on the original flag crew at Lime Rock Park when it first opened in 1957, and later checked an item off his bucket list when he raced there in his Formula Vee at the 2009 Vintage Festival. Dan caught the flying bug at age 13 when he won a ride at a local air show. In his 20s, he became a commercial pilot and instructor and almost flew for Eastern Airlines. As a kid, Dan would ride along with the fire department, who nicknamed him "Doc" after his father. He always wanted to go to a Barrett-Jackson auction, and in 2007, there happened to be one near a conference that Sheila was attending. They left with a 1937 American LaFrance, the same kind of truck he rode on as a kid.

Service to others was a cornerstone of Dan's life. As a member of the Lions Club for 35 years, Dan restarted the KidSight Outreach program in Athens. He was also a dedicated Claxton Community Volunteer Emergency Services member, responding to calls at all hours. Dan worked tirelessly for their Save-A-Kitty Athens 501c3 rescue and transported rescued cats and dogs on their journeys to their forever homes. He and Sheila's love for animals led to adopting many pets including dogs, cats, llamas, goats, ducks, chickens, and turkeys.

Dan was a very special person—compassionate, funny, supportive, helpful, always smiling—and yes, he loved to talk! He is survived by his wife, Sheila, and his children, Linda, Loren, and Marc from a previous marriage to Katherine (Mercier). He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Albert and Lillian (Uttal), and his brother, Dr. Robert.

In honor of Dan's lifelong love and commitment to animals and his service to his community, the family requests that donations be made to the McMinn Regional Humane Society SOS Dogs Program (320 S Jackson St. Suite A, Athens, TN 37303) or Claxton Community Volunteer Emergency Services (319 County Road 616, Athens, TN 37303) instead of flowers.