Marian Otis Chandler

She was born as Emma Marian Otis July 1, 1866, in Marietta, Ohio,[1] to Harrison Gray Otis (publisher) and Eliza Ann Wetherby. Marian had three sisters, Mabel, Lilian, and Esther (who died in infancy),{[2]} and a brother, Harrison Gray (who died in infancy).{[2]}

In 1894, Marian married Harry Chandler, who later became publisher of the Los Angeles Times. Marian and Harry raised eight children together, two from Harry's first marriage, and six of their own.[3] Norman Chandler (1899–1973), became publisher of the Times after his father's death.

After the death of her husband in 1944, Mrs. Chandler resigned as secretary; a month later she was elected chairman of the Times-Mirror board. She also was vice president of the Chandis Securities Company and vice-president of the Southwest Land Company and the Southwest Company. She was known for her numerous philanthropies.[1]

She died on August 9, 1952, at her home in the Los Feliz foothills, Los Angeles, California.[4], owned many years later by Father Yod. She was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California. She left seven children — Mrs. Roger Goodan (Alice May), Mrs. Earle E. Crowe (Constance), Mrs. John J. Garland (Helen), Mrs. James G. Boswell (Ruth), Norman Chandler. Philip Chandler and Harrison Chandler, as well as a sister, Mabel Otis Booth.[1]

• The community of Reseda, California, was originally named Marian, after Mrs. Chandler.[5]
• A freighter ship built in 1917 (originally named War Flame but known as Empire Leopard when torpedoed and sunk November 2, 1942, by the German submarine U-402) was bought in 1929 by the Los Angeles Steamship Company and renamed Marian Otis Chandler, holding that name until it was sold again in 1939.[6]