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In Memoriam | Fall 2024

In Memoriam: 1950s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Ralph H. Harrison Jr. (Engr ’55 CM) of Earlysville, Virginia, died June 30, 2023. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at UVA, where he was a member of the Naval ROTC program. After graduation, he was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy, earned his wings as a naval aviator and served in the U. S. Naval Reserve. He retired as a captain after 30 years. In civilian life, he worked in the defense industry, representing defense contractors in their contracting efforts with the Pentagon. In his leisure time, he was an avid golfer, playing well into his 80s. He was also an active member of the National Aviation Club in Crystal City, where he enjoyed swapping stories with fellow aviators. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Betsy. Survivors include his daughter and his son, Ralph H. Harrison III (Com ’83 CM).
Benjamin Altschul (Com ’56) of Hamilton, New Jersey, died May 6, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce, where he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and the ROTC program. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant. He left the Reserves as a captain. For several years after his military service, he worked at Stern’s department store in New York City before returning to his native Norfolk to join his father and uncle in the management of Altschul’s department store. He later became interested in real estate development and management and established Ben Altschul Realtor. During this time, he was a member of the Norfolk Board of Realtors. He loved sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, taking long walks at the Norfolk Botanical Garden and hosting dinner parties. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Candace; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Howard E. Gill Jr. was a member of the 7 Society Howard E. Gill Jr. (Col ’56 CM) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died Feb. 13, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s in religious studies from UVA, where he was a Lawn resident and a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, the IMP Society, Corks & Curls, T.I.L.K.A. and the P.K. Society. He also served as chairman of the Honor Committee his fourth year. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Navy. He was deployed on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Navy Reserves. Following his military service, he joined the Thomas Rutherfoord Insurance Agency. He spent his career in the commercial insurance industry until retiring from HRH Insurance in 1998. He specialized in providing coverage for construction companies and was active in many professional organizations, including Associated General Contractors of Virginia and Builders and Contractors Exchange. His community involvement included serving as chairman of the Norfolk YMCA and a board member of the Barrier Islands Center. He loved the outdoors, especially the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Survivors include three sons, including John A. Gill (Col ’85 CM); sister-in-law Susan Harris Gill (Educ ’87 CM); 16 grandchildren, including Greer Gill (Col ’22, Com ’23); and four great-grandchildren.

Robert S. “Bob” Bersch (Com ’57, Law ’60 CM) of Roanoke, Virginia, died March 28, 2024. He earned bachelor’s degrees in both accounting and law from UVA, where he was a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity, the marching band and the glee club. He also earned a master’s degree in law and taxation from the College of William & Mary. He practiced law in Washington, D.C., for several years before joining the Roanoke law firm of Eggleston, Holton, Butler and Glenn as its first tax partner in 1970. In 1978 he formed his own firm, Robert S. Bersch Law Offices, which later became Bersch, Rhodes and Butler. He founded the Bersch Law Firm in 2005 and later started a new division of that firm, Wills on Wheels. He retired in 2020 after 60 years of practice. He was an accredited estate planner through the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and a past president of the Roanoke Valley Estate Planning Council. His hobbies included vocal and instrumental music, travel, tennis, baseball, and all UVA sports. He played drums in the Roanoke Valley Community Band and sang in local choirs. Survivors include his wife, Martha.

Charles Leon Gaudry Jr. (Col ’58, Med ’62, Fellow ’68 CM) of Jacksonville, Florida, died Feb. 4, 2024. He served in the U.S. Navy for two decades, retiring with the rank of captain. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and his medical degree at UVA, where he also completed his medical fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology. He was a dedicated athlete, lettering in four sports at UVA, serving as captain of the wrestling team and becoming an Atlantic Coast Conference champion in wrestling his senior year. He was the president of his graduating class of 1958, as well as a member of Zeta Psi fraternity, Skull and Keys, the P.K. Society, T.I.L.K.A., The 13 Society and the Z Society. After his medical training, he became a physician in the Navy specializing in pediatric hematology and oncology and family practice medicine. His Navy career included postings in Maryland, Texas, Florida and California. Among his professional achievements were appointments as the chairman of the Department of Family Practice and director of the Residency Program at the U.S. Naval Hospital. After his retirement from the Navy, he became chairman of the Department of Family Practice at University Medical Center and chief of the Hematology Division of the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Florida Health Science Center. He enjoyed sailing, bird-watching, running, tennis, hiking and kayaking. Survivors include his wife, Dodie; two children, including Justin Gaudry (Col ’91); three siblings; and four grandchildren.

Malcolm “Mac” Gwynne Jones Jr. (Engr ’59 CM) of Waynesboro, Virginia, died May 7, 2024. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UVA, where he was a member of the football team and treasurer and president of Chi Psi fraternity. He also served on the Student Council and the Fraternity Alumni Council. After UVA, he worked for the E.I. DuPont Co. in Parlin, New Jersey, before returning to his native Waynesboro to pursue a career in real estate and development. He purchased the Barnwell Insurance Agency from his uncle, Warren Barnwell, and added real estate services to form Barnwell & Jones, where he remained the president and owner until his retirement in 2013. During his career he primarily focused on commercial development. He sat on many advisory committees and boards of local businesses and nonprofits. He was a founder of the local chapter of the Junior Achievement program, as well as the Fall Foliage Festival. He served as the chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee of Waynesboro Community Hospital. He enjoyed attending UVA football and basketball games with his family and spending summer vacations in Hilton Head Island. Survivors include his wife, Judith; three children, including Allison Kent (Jones) Evanow (Col ’86 CM); son-in-law William (Bill) Arthur Evanow (Com ’83 CM); and four grandchildren.

Sherwin Klein (Grad ’59, ’81) of Oakton, Virginia (formerly of Hillsdale, New Jersey), died June 10, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Brooklyn College and his master’s and doctoral degrees in philosophy from UVA. He was a professor emeritus of philosophy and business ethics at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. During his career, he published three books and many articles on philosophical topics, including the books Ethical Business Leadership: Balancing Theory and Practice and Business Ethics: Reflections from a Platonic Point of View. He enjoyed spending quality time with his family, snorkeling in Hawaii and the Caribbean, watching baseball, and listening to Bach. Survivors include two children, including Charles Klein (Col ’92 CM); and four grandchildren.