In Memoriam: 1950s
Notices sorted by graduation date
G. Cabell Brown (Engr ’50 L/M) of Nonak, Conn., died Dec. 12, 2013. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He worked as a civil engineer in Buffalo, N.Y., until moving to Connecticut in 2012. Mr. Brown was the past president of the Buffalo Ski Club and summered every year at Chautauqua Institution in New York. Survivors include three daughters, five grandchildren and a sister.
William Gaither Colmery Jr. (Col ’51) of Jacksonville, Fla., died Feb. 28, 2014. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. At the University, he was a member of the Raven Society and Kappa Alpha Order. Mr. Colmery had a long career in the insurance and financial planning field in Jacksonville and served as president of the UVaClub of Jacksonville. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Anne Colmery Brown (Com ’79 L/M) and Virginia Colmery Parsley (Educ ’82 L/M); and five grandchildren, including Stephen Colmery Parsley (Col ’09, Law ’14 L/M), Ashley Hewes Parsley (Col ’12 L/M), Caroline Hopkins Parsley (Col ’14) and Cameron Colmery Brown (Col ’15).
George Stark Howard (Engr ’51) of Charlottesville died March 5, 2014. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. At the University, he was a member of Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. He worked at Westinghouse Electric for his entire career, serving as a manager for over 38 years in the gas and small steam turbine division. Mr. Howard was an expert in his field and a dedicated member of and frequent lecturer for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Following his retirement from Westinghouse, he continued to consult and testify as an expert witness in turbine engines. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Susan Howard-Smith (Nurs ’81 L/M); two sons, including George S. Howard Jr. (Col ’74, Law ’77 L/M); and seven grandchildren, including John Howard-Smith (Col ’08).
Julian Knox Morrison III (Col ’52 L/M) of Port Orange, Fla., died March 19, 2014. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. At the University, he was a member of the Naval ROTC, the Trident Society and Sigma Chi fraternity. Mr. Morrison began his civilian career with Chance Vought Aircraft Corp. in Dallas. After moving to Washington, D.C., in 1965, he began an analysis and writing career, during which he worked for the Research Analysis Corporation; as executive secretary of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission; as a consultant with both the American Institute of Engineers and the American Institute of Architects and for the National Research Council; and as a member of the Washington International Trade Association until his retirement. He volunteered with several organizations that employed his early passions for writing, computers, guided missile technology and aviation matters. He also served as the public information officer for aviation for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in Daytona Beach, Fla., where his unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its surveillance and defense activities following Sept. 11. An avid model railroader and model plane builder, Mr. Morrison was a mentor in robotics and 3-D printers to students at the Academy of Information Technology and Robotics at Spruce Creek High School. Survivors include four daughters, including Patricia M. Morrison (Col ’84); six grandchildren; a great-grandson; and a brother, Vance Morrison (Col ’62).
Donald L. Corey (Col ’53 L/M) of Norfolk, Va., died March 9, 2014. At the University, he was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. Mr. Corey worked in the contact lens industry for more than 30 years as president of Conforma Laboratories and as an administrator with Amsco-Lombart Lenses. He also served on the board of the Contact Lens Manufacturing Association. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Faith Corey Fuhrman (Nurs ’85, ’88 L/M); a son; and three grandchildren, including Jay G. Fuhrman (Engr ’15 L/M).
Eloise Huff (Educ ’54 L/M) of Midlothian, Va., died March 4, 2014. She was an educator for more than 40 years and served as a school principal in Norfolk, Va., and in Chesterfield County at Robious and Salem Church Schools. Survivors include her sister and her longtime companion.
Ernest George Rafey (Med ’54 L/M) of Falls Church, Va., died Jan. 19, 2014. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and received the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement. Dr. Rafey was a physician who practiced medicine for more than 50 years, first in Ohio and later in Falls Church. In 1972, he expanded his Falls Church practice into Medic-24, Ltd. (later First Medic), a round-the-clock nonemergency clinic with offices in Bailey’s Crossroads and McLean, Va. From 1992 to 2010, Dr. Rafey was a civilian physician at Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic at Fort Myer. He was a first responder to the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. A community leader, Dr. Rafey served as president of the Lake Barcroft Association in 1972, through the difficulties to that community caused by Hurricane Agnes. He had a generous, caring spirit and was known for spending much time with his patients. He and his wife enjoyed traveling, fine dining and introducing friends to new restaurants. An avid collector of wines, coins and antiques, Dr. Rafey also enjoyed spending time with his family and embracing his Lebanese heritage. Survivors include two daughters; two sons, including Richter Rafey (Engr ’84 L/M); two grandchildren; and a half brother.
F. Grice Whiteley (Col ’54 L/M) of Charlottesville died March 21, 2014. He served in the U.S. Army. At the University, Mr. Whiteley was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Eli Banana, the PK German Society, the Army ROTC and the V Club. He served as co-captain of the University’s penultimate varsity boxing team and, in 1953, he organized the funeral for Seal, the University’s canine mascot. After leaving the Army, Mr. Whiteley began a career in banking and later joined a local real estate investment firm, eventually establishing his own estate planning and financial investment consulting firm. He served as treasurer on the vestry of St. Paul’s Memorial Church and was a volunteer leader with the Cub Scouts. Mr. Whiteley was a certified Master Gardener who enjoyed working in the yard with his wife, who was also a talented gardener. Together they enjoyed hosting parties in their home garden. Survivors include his son, four grandchildren and a brother.
Walter C. Hartridge II (Col ’55) of Savannah, Ga., died April 23, 2014. He served in the U.S. Army. At the University, he lived on the Lawn, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of the Virginia Spectator staff, the Raven Society, the Jefferson Literary & Debating Society and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. A career lawyer with the firm of Bouhan Williams & Levy, Mr. Hartridge focused his practice on corporate and maritime law and served as a mentor to many younger attorneys. He was active in many community and civic activities and served as past president of the Society of the Cincinnati in Georgia, as past president and chairman of the board of the Historic Savannah Foundation, as a trustee of the Georgia Conservancy, and in various capacities in other organizations. An avid sailor and outdoorsman with a keen interest in American and European history, he was fluent in German and French. Mr. Hartridge enjoyed watching sports with his children and grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, a brother, two daughters, a son and six grandchildren.
Meredith Dickinson “Dick” Stoever (Col ’54 L/M) of Charlotte, N.C., died March 8, 2014. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. At the University, he was a member of the men’s tennis team, the Glee Club and Kappa Alpha Order. Mr. Stoever began his career working for Sun Oil Co. in Charlotte, but quickly realized that he wanted to pursue a career in real estate and began working for land developer C.D. Spangler. After working in commercial real estate brokerage and development with several companies in the Charlotte area, he established Stoever Properties Inc. During his career, Mr. Stoever made many friends and was well regarded for his honesty. He was active in the Charlotte community, serving terms on the Board of Adjustments for both the city and the county. A competitive tennis player for most of his life, he also enjoyed playing rounds of golf with his friends at the Charlotte Country Club. Survivors include his wife, a son, a daughter and four grandchildren.
John Metcalf “Jack” Fitz (Col ’56) of Hazard, Ky., died Nov. 27, 2013. He served in the U.S. Army. At the University, Mr. Fitz was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and the Cavalier Daily staff. A coal miner and operator, he was the owner of Ajax Coal Co. in Bulan, Ky. Mr. Fitz was a member of the National Independent Coal Operators’ Association and the Kentucky Coal Association, and served as president of the Knott, Letcher and Perry Independent Coal Operators Association. He also served on the Kentucky Abandoned Mine Lands Committee from the late 1970s to early 1980s. Survivors include his wife, a daughter, two sons, two granddaughters and two stepchildren.
Frank E. Moss (Engr ’56, ’61, Grad ’64) of St. Louis died Jan. 4, 2011. At the University, he lived on the Lawn. Mr. Moss joined the faculty of the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, in 1971, where he was promoted to full professor in 1976 and to curators’ professor in 2000. He began his physics career as a low-temperature experimentalist and his work contributed to the early understanding of the dynamics of turbulence in superfluids, still a highly active research topic today. Mr. Moss later shifted his interest to the role of noise in biological systems and, after co-founding the Center for Neurodynamics in 1996, he and his colleagues began to investigate the role of noise in animal behavior. He conducted many seminal studies on this topic and a number of others, such as the effects of visual noise on human perception and the problems of noise and collective behavior in biological systems. Most recently, he studied problems in the dynamics and evolution of animal foraging patterns. A tireless researcher, his energy was an inspiration to his colleagues. He traveled often as a featured speaker and held many visiting professorships and fellowships in the U.S. and abroad throughout his career, among them two senior visiting fellowships with the British Science Research Council and a NATO senior visiting fellowship from the Italian National Research Council at the Institute of Biophysics at the University of Pisa. He received the President’s Award for Research and Creativity from the University of Missouri system in 1994 and was elected to fellowship in the Academy of Science of St. Louis in 1999. Mr. Moss continued to research until his retirement in 2008. Survivors include his wife, Elaine Koumparakis Moss (Educ ’62); a son and two grandchildren.
Norman C. Hughes (Engr ’58) of Sumter, S.C., died Jan. 26, 2014. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and later in the Marine Corps Reserve in various cities throughout the country. Mr. Hughes was a mechanical engineer who was employed throughout his career by DuPont in Waynesboro, Va.; the Research Laboratory for the Engineering Sciences in Charlottesville; and the U.S. Rubber Co./Uniroyal in Scottsville, Va. He also worked for a time in Adelaide, South Australia; and Shelbyville, Tenn., and eventually retired as an engineer at Becton-Dickinson in Sumpter. A member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Mr. Hughes was active in local and civic organizations, including Civitan International, American Legion Post 15 and the Marine Corps League. He enjoyed building radio-controlled model airplanes and belonged to a model airplane club. Survivors include his wife; two daughters; two grandsons; a sister; and a brother, Arthur Hughes (Engr ’49).
Roger Martin “Marty” Millar (Engr ’58 L/M) of Germantown, Tenn., died March 22, 2014. At the University, he served on the Honor Committee and was a member of the Army ROTC and Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1958 until his retirement in 1979. A graduate of the Airborne School and the Command and General Staff College, he served tours of duty in Vietnam, Korea, Germany and Panama, where he managed the widening of the Panama Canal from 1968 to 1970. After his military service, Mr. Millar worked as a construction manager and civil engineer for Holiday Inn Worldwide (now Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts), Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Co. and the Palm Beach County, Fla., school district. He also provided consulting services in construction management. Mr. Millar was a member of many engineering organizations, among them the Society of American Military Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers, and was elected a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and selected as engineer of the year by the Palm Beach branch of the ASCE. He served as an adult leader for the Boy Scouts of America, serving as scoutmaster and in other positions with troops in Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Knox, Ky.; Balboa, Panama; and Stuttgart, Germany. A dedicated family man, Mr. Millar enjoyed genealogy and photography. Survivors include his wife; three sons, including Roger M. Millar Jr. (Engr ’82 L/M) and William W. Millar (Col ’83 L/M); six grandchildren; and a brother, Ralph Millar (Darden ’61).
Jake Berman Jr. (Col ’59 L/M) of Earlysville, Va., died Sept. 6, 2013. At the University, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was a retired real estate broker. Mr. Berman enjoyed spending time and relaxing at North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Survivors include his wife, two sons, five daughters and 14 grandchildren.
George Patterson “Pat” Hester (Col ’59 L/M) of Richmond, Va., died Feb. 19, 2014. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. At the University, he was a member of the football and boxing teams and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Mr. Hester began his career with Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance in Richmond and later worked at Miller & Rhoads department store, where he held several positions until he was hired by the Dayton Hudson Corp. and moved his family to Oklahoma City in 1972. He returned to Richmond in 1978 and formed Emtex Corp. After retirement, he served on the board of the Maymont Gift Shop, volunteered with the Salvation Army and for 12 years served on the board of the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, where he was instrumental in building the John G. Woods School. He was a member of the Country Club of Virginia. Survivors include two daughters, including Elizabeth Garnett Hester (Law ’83); a son; and five granddaughters.