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In Memoriam | Summer 2014

In Memoriam: 1960s

Notices sorted by graduation date

John Temple Gill III (Engr ’61) of Cincinnati and Salem, Mass., died Jan. 29, 2014. He served in the U.S. Army. At the University, Mr. Gill was a member of the Cavalier Daily staff, Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Theta Tau engineering fraternity. An electrical engineer by trade, Mr. Gill was a manufacturer’s representative in the paper, foil and blown film industry, and owned his own small business. He was a tinkerer and gadget lover who installed most of the automatic garage door openers in his Cincinnati neighborhood and was the first on his block to own a snowblower, a microwave oven and a VCR. He was known to take apart a car engine or restore an antique lamp for enjoyment. Mr. Gill loved the ocean and looking for sharks’ teeth on the beach, and he delighted in being able to watch the surf anytime he’d like after moving to Salem, Mass., in 2005. He had a wry sense of humor, an appreciation of words and crossword puzzles, and was an avid sports fan. He also made delicious eggnog at Christmas. Survivors include his wife, a daughter and two grandsons.

Robert A. Jahrsdoerfer (Med ’61 L/M) of Afton, Va., died March 17, 2014. A world-renowned otologist, he gave the gift of hearing to many. Dr. Jahrsdoerfer was a professor emeritus of both the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He was an avid sports fan who loved his dogs, his work and his family. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, including Alexa Jahrsdoerfer (Nurs ’87 L/M) and Alison Jahrsdoerfer (Col ’89); two sons, including Michael Fisher (Engr ’74 L/M); and three grandchildren.

Stanley C. Baker (Col ’62) of Harpswell, Maine, died March 8, 2014. At the University, he was a member of the Glee Club and a Lawn resident. Mr. Baker had a career in banking and insurance. An avid sailor, he enjoyed racing and taking day sails around Casco Bay. Survivors include his wife, a daughter and a granddaughter.

James Riley “Rye” Ayers IV (Col ’63, Darden ’68 L/M) of Advance, N.C., died Jan. 29, 2014. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. At the University, he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, the 13 Society, Eli Banana, the IMP Society, the P.K. Society, Skull and Keys and the V Club. He was also a member of the football, baseball and wrestling teams and served as chair of the Honor Committee. Mr. Ayers had a long career in the home furnishings industry. After retirement, he and his wife built a home on 8 acres of heavily wooded land near the Yadkin River in Davie County, N.C. There Mr. Ayers enjoyed reading history, cooking and smoking barbecue and logging trees for winter firewood. He also loved to play golf. Survivors include his wife, three sons and a granddaughter.

Emily Borgus Adamson (Educ ’65) of Lexington, Va., died March 21, 2014. A teacher for 35 years, Ms. Adamson was also a guidance counselor at Lexington High School and a driving instructor. Early in her career, she taught grades four through seven, and later taught health and physical education at Lylburn Downing Middle School, where she coached the girls’ basketball and tumbling teams. Ms. Adamson was certified by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to instruct motorcycle safety and defensive driving techniques to traffic violators. She was active in her community, as a member of the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council and troop leader for 20 years, and as a volunteer coordinator for the Stonewall Jackson Hospital Auxiliary. She also volunteered at the Maury River Senior Center. Ms. Adamson served on many committees, among them the Washington & Lee Board of Minority Students and the board of directors of Lime Kiln Arts, and served as canteen chairman of the Rockbridge County Blood Mobile and as president of the Lylburn Downing Alumni Association. Ms. Adamson enjoyed traveling, fishing, motorcycle riding and spending time with her family. She often traveled with family and friends on cruises and tours abroad and in 48 states. Survivors include a brother, a sister and many nieces and nephews.

John S. Baymiller (Arch ’65 L/M) of Portland, Ore., died March 2, 2014. At the University, he was a member of the Cavalier Daily and Virginia Spectator staffs, the swimming and diving team, the Glee Club and Sigma Phi fraternity. He was an architect who lived in New York City; St. Paul, Minn.; Santa Monica, Calif.; and Portland throughout his career. Mr. Baymiller designed the underground bookstore on the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, campus, the school’s first day-lit underground building. He also designed a residence using telephone poles in a rural area near St. Paul. He was instrumental among a small group of educators and parents who helped to establish the St. Paul Open School, an experimental K-12 program that was first housed in a former industrial warehouse in St. Paul, and also designed and helped build several loft spaces in the school that added significantly to the school’s ambiance and uniqueness. His architectural renderings were commissioned for and prized by a number of architectural firms. Mr. Baymiller possessed an enthusiasm for planning and design and believed that architecture can truly better the lives of human beings. He loved dogs, cats, photography and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, and he enjoyed traveling abroad. Survivors include his wife, a daughter, a son and a sister.

Eldon W. Lanning (Grad ’65 L/M) of Spencerville, Md., died Dec. 15, 2013. He was a professor of political science at the University of Maryland for 33 years and a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America for 30 years.

John R. Crumpler Jr. (Law ’66 L/M) of Norfolk, Va., died Oct. 17, 2013. At the University, he was a member of Phi Alpha Delta professional law fraternity. He was a partner in the law firm of Ober Williams & Grimes in Baltimore before moving to Norfolk to join the firm of Seawell Dalton Hughes & Timms. An accomplished maritime lawyer and litigator, Mr. Crumpler was a partner in the law firm of Kaufman & Canoles until his retirement. An avid history buff and sports enthusiast, he was also extremely devoted to his family. Survivors include his wife; a daughter; two sons, John R. Crumpler III (Col ’90 L/M) and Benjamin C. Crumpler (Col ’93); and five grandchildren.

James A. Danahey Jr. (Col ’67 L/M) of Fort Worth, Texas, died March 31, 2014. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. At the University, he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, the Air Force ROTC and the Jefferson Literary & Debating Society. Mr. Danahey worked for 32 years for American Airlines, where he was a respected pilot, mentor, instructor, union representative and fleet supervisor of training for the 777, for which he developed innovative education programs. He loved to teach and spent five years after his retirement from American as an instructor for Boeing. An accomplished musician, Mr. Danahey enjoyed playing the guitar and singing Irish songs. He traveled to many places with his family and friends; his favorite trips were the ones he took to Australia, Spain, Ireland and Scotland. Survivors include his wife, a daughter, a son, a grandson and a brother.

Madge Harrison Karickhoff (Educ ’68) of Fairfax, Va., died April 4, 2014. She was a former high school English teacher. Ms. Karickhoff was a membership chairman of the Mantua Women’s Club in Fairfax and a Brownie Scout and Girl Scout troop leader. She was very active in local organizations, among them the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Salvation Army, the State Society of Virginia and the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Ms. Karickhoff also served as the communications chair of the Arlington County Medical Alliance Wives. For 23 years, she volunteered at the Little River Glen Retirement Center in Fairfax, where she led a current events discussion group. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, including Margaret “Maggie” Karickhoff (Educ ’05); and a sister, Susannah Burwell Martin Thompson (Col ’73).

Anne Everett Mish (Educ ’68) of Lexington, Va., died April 9, 2014. A lifelong horsewoman and educator, Ms. Mish taught at Southern Virginia University (formerly Southern Seminary) in Buena Vista, Va., from 1947 to 1991. A champion of educational horsemanship, she was a driving force in developing a nationally renowned riding program at the college; the school’s indoor riding arena was named for her in 1966. In 1988, she was named the Virginia Horse Shows Association Horsewoman of the Year, and in 1997, she was inducted into the Southwest Hunter/Jumper Association’s Hall of Fame. Ms. Mish also showed and bred many equine champions throughout her life. Survivors include two sons, including Robert H.W. Mish III (Grad ’79); two grandchildren; and a sister.