Obituaries

McLean Mourns Death of a Special, Gentle Neighbor

Ty Tandler, 1927-2011

McLean neighbors and friends said goodbye Friday to a kind and gentle man who cultivated optimism, encouragement and thoughtfulness.

Family and friends gathered at St. John Episcopal Church Friday to remember Tyler W. Tandler as a great dad, ardent Redskin fan, Air Force pilot, West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran. Ty, as he was universally known, died suddenly last week at his McLean home.

He was 83.

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"Dad lived a great American life and he loved every minute of it," said John, one of his four children. He loved playing tennis. Ty talked a son into building a tennis court behind the family home.

Ty was a Redskin ticket holder for 45 years and organizer of unforgettable tailgate parties. His son, Richard who writes a popular Redskin blog, said his dad had recently received his season tickets and was figuring out whom to invite to each game.

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"Dad liked everybody--- except Democrats, some Naval Academy graduates," Richard told the audience to laughter.

Son Robert said, "You've touched many people and they all said the same thing, you were so nice."

Daughter Tad, who came to live with her dad two years ago said, "Ty made friends from all walks of life," from downtown businessmen to Andre, the popular clerk at the McLean Safeway.

A 1950 West Point graduate, Ty entered the Air Force and first flew B-36's, the bomber that transitioned the U.S. from propeller to jet-powered aircraft.

In Vietnam he flew the dangerous missions of  forward observer and target marker for air strikes. He retired as an Air Force Colonel in 1977 and settled in McLean with his wife Mimi and the family. Mimi, a writer, died in 2008.

He was the father of four and grandfather of nine.

Susan Sowers, a former West Point graduate, U.S Army Colonel, and now an Episcopal priest gave the homily at Ty's funeral.

They met a few years ago when Rev. Sowers came to St. John as a seminarian.

"He believed that I had some special qualities that would be so good for God's work," she said. "His encouragement reenforced my path, that I was taken the right path.

"He made it feel like it was a great decision that I had made," she said.

He flew to Pensacola, Fla and attended her ordination.

During the homily she said she too was still shaken by his sudden death, but added, "Ty's in good hands."

Full Disclosure: McLean Patch knew Ty and mourns his passing.

 

 

"Dad lived a great American


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