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In Memoriam | Summer 2026

In Memoriam: 1950s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Irving Luie Fass (Col ’51 CM) of Newport News, Virginia, died Dec. 16, 2025. While at UVA, he was a member of Phi Epsilon Pi, forming lifelong friendships. After graduation, he joined the Coast Guard and was stationed in Baltimore, where he met the love of his life, Nancy. The couple moved to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where they raised their five children. He and his brother, Arthur Fass (Col ’55), took up the family business, Isaac Fass Seafood in Portsmouth, Virginia. They later founded Fass Brothers, expanding the business into fishing fleets, processing plants, a dry dock and several restaurants. In retirement, he spent his time painting. Along with his brother Arthur, survivors include his five children, including Andrew Fass (Com ’81 CM) and Thomas Fass (Col ’88 CM); daughter-in-law Rebecca Parcell Fass (Col ’88 CM); 11 grandchildren, including Claudia Fass (Col ’16 CM) and Emma Fass (Engr ’18 CM); and nine great-grandchildren.

Blaine Townsend Phillips was a member of the 7 SocietyBlaine Townsend Phillips (Col ’52, Law ’55 CM) of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and Easton, Maryland, died Dec. 3, 2025. He was a member of T.I.L.K.A., the IMP Society, and the Cavalier Daily. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with honors. In law school, he was a member of the Virginia Law Review, was president of the Raven Society, and received the Raven Award. He was a senior partner at Potter Anderson. In 1991, he was appointed chairman of Delaware’s Judicial Nominating Committee. In 1999, the UVA School of Law established a permanent chair in his honor, the Blaine T. Phillips Distinguished Professorship in Environmental Law. He was elected as an officer of Fauna & Flora International and served on the boards of several environmental groups. As a proud supporter of the university, he was a trustee of the alumni board of the University of Virginia Endowment Fund. In Delaware, he was a longtime board member of the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, the Hagley Museum and Library, and the Mt. Cuba Center. Survivors include his wife, Susan; three children, Andrea Phillips Salley (Arch ’78, Law ’82), Blaine T. Phillips Jr. (Col ’86) and J. Riley Miller; three stepchildren; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Robert Weeks Kitchel (Com ’54 CM) of Nashville died Feb. 18, 2025. At UVA, he was president of Chi Psi fraternity and a member of T.I.L.K.A. and the Honor Society. From 1954 until 1960, he worked for the Hercules Powder Co. of Wilmington, Delaware. After marrying his wife, Emily, he moved to Nashville. He owned and was president of the E.S. Brugh Co., which he sold to Crichton, Perry & Brandon in 1988, becoming vice president of that company until his retirement. He was a past president of the Exchange Club of Nashville (now the Economic Club). He was chairman of the board of the Harpeth Hall School and served on the boards of the Ensworth School and Cheekwood historic estate. He was an avid tennis player who won numerous club, state and senior titles. Along with Emily, survivors include two daughters; five grandchildren; a great-grandson and many nieces and nephews.

Benjamin “Ben” Y. Bigler Jr. (Col ’55 CM) of Williamsburg, Virginia, died Jan. 10, 2026. He was a member of Theta Delta Chi, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, and Army ROTC. His fourth year, he lived in Lawn room 52. Following graduation, he married his wife, Mollie, and served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His career began at Union Carbide Corporation, where he became director of marketing research and data systems, based in New York City. After 30 years at Carbide, he started his own firm. He later relocated to Williamsburg, where he indulged his love of history as an interpreter at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and taught courses for the Christopher Wren Association. After retirement, he moved to Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where he taught history at Delaware Valley University, before returning to Williamsburg. He loved nature, family, big-band music and the Buffalo Bills. Survivors include four daughters, including Anne G. Bigler (Col ’80 CM); three sons-in-law and four grandchildren.

W. Glover Garner was a member of the 7 SocietyW. Glover Garner Jr. (Law ’56 CM) of Newport News, Virginia, died Jan. 7, 2026. He played on UVA’s successful 1951 football team and lettered in boxing. He was a member of Army ROTC, Beta Theta Pi, V-Club, Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity, T.I.L.K.A. and the IMP Society. He served seven years in the U.S. Army Reserve. He practiced law in Newport News for 50 years. He was an active member of the Virginia and American Bar Associations, serving as a council member of the Virginia State Bar from 1969 to 1975, among other leadership roles. For several years, he led the Peninsula United Fund, the Newport News chapter of the American Red Cross and the Hampton Roads Jaycees. Survivors include his brother Wallace K. Garner (Col ’58, Med ’62 CM); two children, including W. Glover Garner III (Med ’94); daughter-in-law Karen B. Garner (Col ’90, Med ’94); eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, including Thomas K. Garner (Col ’95) and his wife Christy Pomeroy Garner (Col ’97).

A. Austin “Budgie” Pearre Jr. (Col ’56 CM) of Frederick, Maryland, died Jan. 20, 2026. He was a member of ODK and St. Elmo Hall, as well as the IMP, Raven, and T.I.L.K.A. societies. He was a starting player on the Cavalier basketball team. After earning a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University and serving as a medical officer in the Navy, he completed his residency and cardiology fellowship at UVA. He returned to his hometown of Frederick to practice medicine, first with his father, A. Austin Pearre Sr. (Col 1919, Med 1922), and then as a founding member of Internal Medicine Associates. He took care of numerous generations of families for 51 years. He remained close with his UVA and Charlottesville friends and loved UVA sports. He was predeceased by his wife, Joanne. Survivors include four children, including Insley Pearre (Col ’84 CM) and Austin Lindsay Pearre (Col ’89 CM); son-in-law Steve Wilson (Col ’84 CM); and five grandchildren, including Eliza Pearre Wilson (Col ’20).

Douglas Munder Godine was a member of the 7 SocietyDouglas Munder Godine Sr. (Col ’57 CM) of Baltimore died Dec. 24, 2025. At UVA, he held leadership roles in Delta Kappa Epsilon, the IMP Society, Eli Banana and Student Council. He was an All-American lacrosse player. Following graduation, he served as a first lieutenant in the Army. A prominent real estate developer at the Rouse Company, he helped plan and develop Columbia, Maryland, in the 1960s. In 2003, as vice president of General Growth Partners, he was responsible for the redevelopment of Columbia’s Town Center. He was a founding trustee of Jemicy School, one of the first day schools for dyslexic students in the U.S. He was predeceased by his daughter, Mary Brooke. Survivors include his wife, Ellen; one sister; two children, Kathy Godine Phillips (Arch ’84) and Douglas Munder Godine Jr. (Col ’91); daughter-in-law Corie Williams Godine (Col ’91 CM); and five grandchildren, including Katherine Cecile Phillips (Col ’17 CM), Walker Guthrie Phillips, Douglas Munder Godine III (Col ’22, Com ’23), William Halsey Godine, and Caroline Margaret Godine (Com ’27).