Alexander MacDonald Wessell passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 15, 2023.
Sandy, as he was known, was born in Wilmington, NC on May 24, 1949, the third child of John Charles Wessell Jr and Jean Hall Wessell.
He attended Chestnut Street Elementary and Junior High School, Oak Ridge Military Academy, New Hanover High School, UNC-Chapel Hill, and graduated from UNC-Wilmington.
He served as a quartermaster in the U.S. Navy on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Independence during the Vietnam War.
Sandy was married to Virginia “Ginger” Neill of Richmond, Virginia for more than 48 wonderful years. They had two sons, Alexander MacDonald Wessell, Jr. (Alec) and Robert Neill Wessell (Neill).
In his early years, Sandy worked for Pennington Marine and Mutual of Omaha before founding and operating Wessell Systems for nearly 40 years. He was an active member of the Carolina Yacht Club, Cape Fear Country Club, and L’Ariosa German Club.
Sandy loved Wrightsville Beach, Cedar Island, anything to do with boats, camping in the mountains, Manitoba duck hunting trips, fishing, hanging out on sandbars with the children, oyster roasts, photography, navigating the streets of New York City, cheering on the Tar Heels, and Masonboro Island picnics with friends (after the children grew up).
For whatever reason, Sandy seemed to collect nicknames: Gut, Mister Bluster, Dr. Know, Catalogue, Mister Nixon, and Sandra, to name a few. But Sandy’s favorite nickname was “Sandaddy.” Bestowed upon him by his first grandchild, Little Alec, Sandy will proudly take this name and the standard he set as a grandfather with him into eternity.
If Sandy collected a lot of nicknames, he collected even more friends. He was a rare breed who managed to walk into any room, job site, or party, cantankerously greet people with friendly insults, and receive warm and welcome salutes in return. Sandy’s circle of friends was wide, and his individual friendships were deep. If he made you feel like you were one of his best friends, it is undoubtedly because you were.
Sandy was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Lindsay Wessell Reiter.
He is survived by his wife, Ginger, and his sons, Alec and Neill, whom he adored and adored him in return; his daughter-in-law, Charlotte Egerton Wessell; three precious grandchildren, Alexander MacDonald Wessell III, Lee Alexandra Wessell, and Wren Bryant Wessell; his brother John Charles Wessell III and sister-in-law, Jan Sherman Wessell; sisters-in-law Pam Neill Kirchman (Bob) and Susie Neill; his aunt Carolyn Hall; niece and beloved “daughter” Julia Wessell Lackey (Kyle); nieces Mehera Virginia Reiter and Annie Kirchman Knepper (Steve); nephew Sam Kirchman (Rachel); and five grandnieces. He will be especially missed by his English Cocker Spaniel, Lily, who was regularly and resolutely at his side.
Funeral Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, April 19 at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the JDRF North Carolina Chapter or WHQR Public Media.
