In Memoriam: 1950s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Evelyn Raye Fizer (Nurs class of ’53) of Princeton, West Virginia, died Aug. 17, 2024. At age 17 she enrolled in the nursing program at UVA, graduating as an RN after three years of training. She moved to Los Angeles in 1955 and worked as a nurse at locations including UCLA’s emergency department, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Universal Studios. She also fulfilled a lifelong dream of riding horses by riding in the Hollywood Hills with friends. In 1980 she moved to Reno, Nevada, where she worked at Washoe Medical Center (now known as Renown Regional Medical Center) in orthopedics until her retirement. She adored the rugged mountains, Lake Tahoe and clear mountain air. At age 69, she returned to her native West Virginia to be closer to family. Survivors include a niece and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

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John Sergeant Wise Jr. (Col ’55 CM) of Summerdale, Alabama, died Feb. 5, 2024. A Charlottesville native, he received his bachelor’s degree at UVA, where he participated in several sports, including men’s swimming and diving. He later earned a bachelor’s in forestry and a master’s in wildlife biology from the University of Georgia. He served in the Korean War as one of the original Green Berets. Later, he served as the commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5850. He had a long career as a biologist and consultant forester, working as an alligator biologist in the Everglades to have alligators placed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species list. He also worked for the Alabama Department of Conservation until his retirement in 1984. He supported more than 20 conservation organizations during his lifetime. He spent his last 30 years as an agriculturalist, raising numerous species of exotic pheasants and waterfowl. He also enjoyed playing tennis and taught lessons to hundreds of students, both young and old. Survivors include three children, two brothers, nine grandchildren and a great-grandchild.