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In Memoriam | Winter 2012

In Memoriam: 1960s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Robert R. Gilbert (Col '60) of Norfolk, Va., died Oct. 1, 2012. At the University, Mr. Gilbert was a member of Zeta Psi fraternity. He worked in the computer science field until his retirement. Survivors include his brother, Jackson B. Gilbert (Col '53, Law '56 L/M).

Alvin H. Hightower (Educ '64) of Chesapeake, Va., died Sept. 26, 2012. He served in the U.S. Air Force. In 1968, he began a 30-year teaching career with Chesapeake schools. Mr. Hightower taught history and government at Western Branch High School for the majority of his career.

Beth Ann Collins (Med '65 L/M) of Roanoke, Va., died Oct. 13, 2012. She completed her medical internship and surgical residency at Roanoke Memorial Hospital and continued her obstetrics and gynecology residency at George Washington University Hospital until 1970. She then joined the Physicians to Women practice, where she worked until her retirement in 2000. In 1974, Dr. Collins was named a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and in 2007 received the Women's Achievement Award in Health Care from the Young Women's Christian Association. Dr. Collins was a Virginia Cavaliers and Washington Redskins fan who enjoyed listening to music and traveling in the United States and abroad.

Thomas M. Kain III (Col '65) of Bryn Mawr, Pa., died April 26, 2012. At the University, he was a Lawn resident, served on the staff of the Virginia Spectator, and was a member of the German club, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and Theta Delta Chi fraternity. He practiced medicine in Pennsylvania.

Peter Edward Laux (Col '65 L/M) of Plano, Texas, died July 13, 2012. He served in the Naval ROTC and attended Naval Flight School before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. At the University, he was a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity and worked as a clinical psychology assistant at the University of Virginia Hospital. Mr. Laux served many tours of duty before beginning a career with Texas Instruments, where he worked for 20 years. He completed a number of graduate degrees throughout his life and ran an independent consulting practice. In 1981, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves and logged more than 5,000 flight hours. He was working as a management change consultant for Dell Inc. at the time of his death. Mr. Laux loved spending time with his family, listening to classical music, traveling and watching U.Va. athletic events. Survivors include his wife, Joyce Anne Fisher Laux (Nurs '66 L/M).

Gary Lee Cardwell (Col '65, Grad '66, '76) of Collinsville, Va., died Aug. 29, 2012. At the University, he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and the German Club. He was a professor of history at Ferrum College in Ferrum, Va., and a retired attorney. Mr. Cardwell served as the Henry County prosecutor from 1985 to 1992 and as the first public defender for Martinsville, Henry County and Patrick County from 1993 to 2000. He was a member of the Virginia State Bar and served on the board of directors of the Grace Network in Martinsville, Va., where he volunteered. He enjoyed playing bridge and tennis.

Thomas V. Pastorius (Col '66 L/M) of Sewickley, Penn., died Sept. 6, 2012. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1966 to 1969. At the University, he was a member of the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and the varsity swim team. In 1986, Mr. Pastorius founded Pennsylvania Brewing Company, where he served as president and CEO until 2010. He was a pioneer of the craft brewing movement, winning numerous national and international awards for his brews. Survivors include a brother, James G. Pastorius Jr. (Engr '64).

Bruce A. Sikora (Law '66) of Lee, Mass., died July 31, 2012. He was an assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. He had an interest in quality antiques and was a patron of the arts.

Danny Beamer Weddle (Engr '66, '68 L/M) of Solomons, Md., died Aug. 5, 2012. At the University, he was a Lawn resident. In 1968, he began his career as a mathematician and aerospace engineer at the Computer Services Directorate on the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, where he worked for 33 years. During that time, he helped develop the first flight simulators for testing naval air jets; created a total quality management program; and helped establish the High Performance Computing Modernization Program. His passion for high performance computing led him to the position of senior scientist for the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program in Lorton, Va., as a contractor employed with J.F. Taylor Inc. He was serving as the associate director of strategic opportunities and outreach for the program at the time of his death. Mr. Weddle was also an associate professor of computer science at the Florida Institute of Technology and served on the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center's board of governors. He made many contributions to his profession and his community. He served as the head timer at the annual St. Mary's County Oyster Festival for many years and was always reading several books at a time.

Mary Elizabeth White (Nurs '66) of Hampton, Va., died Sept. 29, 2012. She worked for more than 47 years with the Hampton Health Department, where she was employed as a nurse manager until her death.

Patricia Forsyth Giles (Nurs '67) of Franklin, Tenn., died Aug. 12, 2012. After graduating from the University, she was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, where she used her nursing skills to support military personnel in Vietnam. She was later promoted to the rank of captain. On her return to the United States and her resignation from the Army, she worked in California's Central Valley, Denver and North Carolina. Ms. Giles earned a master's degree in cardiac rehabilitation and went on to teach nursing at the University of Wisconsin. She later earned a juris doctorate and practiced law in Cleveland.

Mark Zell (Col '67) of Richmond, Va., died July 30, 2012. At the University, he was a member of the German Club and Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. He taught science and math in Chesterfield County before entering the printing business in Richmond. He owned and operated Spectrum Press for 43 years, where he was a mentor to his employees and business associates. Mr. Zell enjoyed playing basketball and other sports and took great pleasure in helping people.

William D. "Don" Armstrong (Grad '68) of Catlett, Va., died Sept. 15, 2012. He worked for five decades as a social studies teacher at Fauquier, Annandale and Westfield high schools. He loved traveling, listening to jazz music, eating good food and spending time with his family and friends.