Board of Visitors Member MacArthur A. DeShazer Sr. Dies
August 02, 2019
By Joe Garvey
MacArthur A. DeShazer Sr., a newly appointed member of Old Dominion University's Board of Visitors, died July 27. He was 73.
DeShazer was named to the Board by Gov. Ralph Northam in June and began his term July 1.
"MacArthur's passing is so unfortunate for ODU," President John R. Broderick said. "I'm confident he would have played a significant role on the Board, and I'm sorry that we won't have the benefit his knowledge, passion and vision in shaping the University's future."
DeShazer, who was from Woodbridge, was president and CEO of Aethiops Business Solutions, LLC, since 2018. Prior to Aethiops, he was director of small business development and industrial participation for Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions from 2002 to 2016. He was also executive director of the MacArthur and Janice T. DeShazer Foundation.
Before entering the private sector, he was a commissioned colonel in the U.S. Army, associate deputy undersecretary for International Labor Affairs, president of the National Summit on Africa and director of African Affairs with the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton.
He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and a master's in political science and international relations from the University of Texas at El Paso.
DeShazer is preceeded in death by his grandfathers, Herman DeShazer and Rhoden Ross; grandmothers, Birdia and Adlay; his father Anzie and brother Anzie Jr. (Shug). He is survived by his wife, Janice; sons, MacArthur Jr. and William Ross; daughter-in-law Susan; and grandchildren, Tristan, Ainsley and Cameron. He is also survived by sisters and brothers, respectively, Adlay Thomas (Fred), Geraldine Lampkin, Patricia Redmond (Jerry), Birdia, Deborah, Willie, Freddie (Bobbie Jean), Roger Stanley (Patricia).
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Mountcastle Turch Funeral Home & Crematory.
