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In Memoriam | Spring 2014

In Memoriam: 1960s

Notices sorted by graduation date

William J. deButts Jr. (Col ’62 L/M) of Charlottesville died April 27, 2013. He served in the U.S. Army. At the University, he was a member of St. Elmo Hall/Delta Phi fraternity, the Cavalier Daily staff and Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. He worked for International Paper Sales Co. in New York, Chicago and Atlanta and later became owner and president of City Dry Cleaners & Laundry in Charlottesville. He is survived by his wife, Ann Pringle deButts (Educ ’60); four children; eight grandchildren; a brother, Richard Henry deButts (Col ’65); and a sister, Mary deButts Strother (Grad ’66).

Thomas E. Hutchinson (Grad ’63) of Charleston, S.C., died Sept. 2, 2013, in Charleston, S.C. As a student at the University, he worked with renowned physicist Jesse Beams. Mr. Hutchinson started his career as a scientist with 3M Co. and developed what became scratch ’n’ sniff technology. He returned to U.Va. in 1982 as the William Stansfield Calcott Professor in the School of Engineering. He taught in the biomedical engineering department, served as associate dean for research and graduate studies and then taught in systems and information engineering until his retirement in 2005. In the 1980s, Mr. Hutchinson invented the Eye-gaze Response Interface Computer Aid, or ERICA, a computer system that enables handicapped people to communicate using their eye movement. He chaired the Faculty Senate, was a fellow of Hereford Residential College, faculty adviser to the Trigon Engineering Society and member of the Raven Society, in addition to other committees and groups at the University. Following his retirement from U.Va., he became a University Professor at the College of Charleston. Survivors include his wife; a daughter; and a son, Thomas Eugene “Gene” Hutchinson Jr. (Col ’87, Grad ’91).

Phillips V. Bradford (Engr ’64) of Denver died Oct. 31, 2013. During his career, he published a book, Ota Benga: The Pygmy in the Zoo, and several articles in trade publications on technology transfer and solar energy. He also held several patents. Mr. Bradford was an instructor at the Colorado School of Mines and was president and CEO of Sunrise Ventures Inc. Survivors include his wife.

Walter S. “Walt” Flory III (Engr ’65) of Baltimore died Oct. 27, 2013. He grew up at U.Va.’s Blandy Experimental Farm, where his father was curator of the arboretum. At the University, Mr. Flory was a member of the Cavalier Daily staff. He worked for many years as a computer programmer in Winston-Salem, N.C., and later moved to the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore, where he lived for more than a decade. Mr. Flory enjoyed playing bridge, researching genealogy, playing tennis and bike riding. Survivors include a brother, Thom Flory (Grad ’71 L/M).

Jeffrey Whitney Erickson (Col ’69 L/M) of Knoxville, Tenn., died June 17, 2013. At the University, Mr. Erickson was a member of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, the University Union Concert Committee and the P.K. Society. Early in his career, he served the Knoxville community as director and chief psychologist of the Helen Ross McNabb Center’s Child and Adolescent Services division. He later contributed to the work of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and the Florence Crittenton Agency and collaborated in developing clinical and education programs for children. He further served the community for decades in private practice and was a long-time member of the graduate psychology faculty at the University of Tennessee. He was appointed to Tennessee’s Board of Examiners for Psychology, and at the time of his death was chairman of that board. His love of fine automobiles led to membership and presidency of the Smoky Mountain Jaguar Club. He also enjoyed playing golf and taking family trips. Survivors include a brother, Peter A. Erickson (Col ’73 L/M).

Robert Jere Real (Grad ’69) of Lynchburg, Va., died Nov. 16, 2013. He served in the U.S. Air Force. At the University, he was a member of the drama club and the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society. Mr. Real began his journalism career with the Jackson Daily News in Jackson, Miss., and later moved to Richmond, Va., to work as an editorial page writer for the Richmond News Leader. He left Richmond to join Mercury Records in Chicago, where he worked with various musical artists, participated in the Grammy Awards and was a critical annotator for more than 75 recorded albums. In 1969, he began teaching literature and film history classes at Lynchburg College, where he taught until his retirement in 1999. Survivors include a brother, Edward H. Real (Col ’64); a niece and a nephew.