In Memoriam: 1960s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Peter Gilbert (Col ’61 CM) of Rome, Georgia, died Nov. 14, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from UVA, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity and the P.K. Society. After receiving his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1965, he completed a surgical internship at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta before entering the U.S. Navy in 1967. Following his service, he completed his urologic surgical training at the University of Alabama Medical School in 1972. Returning home to Rome, he practiced urology at the Harbin Clinic for 31 years, where he served on its board of directors. He was a member of the board of directors of Darlington School, the Rome Area Heritage Foundation and the YMCA. He was an outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt with friends. He also loved to sing and play guitar with family. Survivors include his wife, Suzy; three children, including Ivy Gilbert Spencer (Col ’90 CM); son-in-law Thomas Spencer (Col ’91 CM); two sisters; and 10 grandchildren.

Reece Whitley (Educ ’61 CM) of West Norriton, Pennsylvania, died Oct. 17, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from UVA, where he was a member of T.I.L.K.A. and the men’s football and baseball teams. He was a U.S. Army veteran and enjoyed a long career as a health and physical education teacher at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, where he coached football and baseball. He also served as the quarterback coach for the UVA football team for a year. He enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, playing golf and watching football and baseball—especially the Virginia Cavaliers and the Philadelphia Phillies. Survivors include two children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

James “Jym” Edwin Clendenin (Engr ’62 CM) of Menlo Park, California, died Nov. 26, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UVA, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, Naval ROTC, the Wesley Foundation and the Trigon Engineering Society. He was also elected to the Phi Eta Sigma and Tau Beta Pi honor societies. He entered the U.S. Navy as an ensign in 1962 and left as a lieutenant in 1966. He then began to pursue his passion for education and discovery. He earned a master’s degree in religion from Union Seminary in 1968 and later embarked on doctoral studies in atomic physics at Columbia University, completing his doctorate in 1975. Later that year, he and his family moved to California, where he began a 33-year career at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. He was a longtime subscriber to the San Francisco Symphony and a volunteer at the Menlo Park Historical Association. He loved running, cycling, cooking, wine, traveling and classical music. Survivors include his wife, Judith Poole Clendenin (Nurs ’63 CM); a daughter; four siblings; and multiple nieces and nephews.

Harold M. Familant (Col ’62, Grad ’64, ’66 CM) of Delray Beach, Florida, died Oct. 26, 2024. He studied physics at UVA, where he was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, and graduated with a doctorate. After graduation he worked at DuPont and Dow Chemical. In 1969, he moved to Pensacola, Florida, where he started a 32-year career with Monsanto as a senior research scientist. He spent eight years in the electronics division in St. Louis before transferring back to Pensacola to work in the fiber division. After retiring from Monsanto, he moved to Newport News, Virginia. He got a job with Jefferson Labs, where he wrote proposals for Old Dominion University. He enjoyed tennis, running and playing duplicate bridge. Survivors include his wife, Aileen; two children; his brothers Joseph Waddell Familant (Col ‘60, Med ‘65 CM) and Lawrence Familant (Col ’67 CM); and four grandchildren.

Robert Scott Hartless (Col ’67 CM) of DeSoto, Texas, died Sept. 24, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree in German language and literature from UVA, where he was a member of Alpha Phi Omega fraternity and Air Force ROTC. Upon graduation he enlisted in the Air Force, and in 1969 he completed the Undergraduate Pilot Training program and went on to serve in the Vietnam War. In 1976, he completed the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course. That year, he also graduated from Abilene Christian College with a master’s degree in business, communication and psychology. In 1990, he retired from the Air Force as a command pilot with 3,500 flight hours and 1,000 combat hours. During his military career he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and seven air medals. He began a second career as a self-employed financial planner and insurance agent. He also worked as an FAA instructor, developing curricula and traveling internationally to assist other flight instructors. Survivors include his wife, Kathleen; four children; his sister E. Marie Hartless (Educ ’76 CM); and five grandchildren.

Kenneth Lee Poates (Educ ’67, ’73 CM) of Port St. Lucie, Florida, died Aug. 27, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from UVA, where he was a member of Eli Banana, St. Anthony Hall fraternity and the Cavalier Daily. He attended the university on a full football scholarship. He entered the U.S. Navy pilot program in Pensacola, Florida, where he played on the Pensacola Goshawks football team. After leaving the Navy, he returned to his greatest love: football coaching. He taught math and science and coached football at Maury School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and later at several high schools in Fairfax County, where he also worked as a guidance counselor. Survivors include his wife, Karen; a brother; and a niece and nephew.

Ivey “Lewis” Nix Jr. (Arch ’68 CM) of Atlanta died Sept. 13, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from UVA, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, a member of the Raven Society, and a Lawn resident. Upon graduation he received an American Institute of Architects Fellowship and went on to Yale University, where he earned a master’s degree in environmental design. In 1977, he and four other young architects founded the Atlanta architecture firm Nix, Mann and Associates, which grew to an Atlanta staff of 125 before being sold to Perkins&Will in Chicago in 1995. In 1997, he realized a lifelong dream of owning a residence in Paris and spent the rest of his life visiting multiple times a year. He also loved helping others plan trips around France through a travel company he founded called France Unique. He was a member of the Piedmont Driving Club, the Yale Club of New York City and the Rotary Club of Atlanta. Survivors include his wife, Maybeth; three children, including Spalding McArthur Nix (Col ’97) and Laura Nix Fryer (Col ’09 CM); son-in-law Gibbs Fryer (Col ’06, Law ’09); a sister; and seven grandchildren.

Gerald “Jerry” Aaron Donaldson (Grad class of ’69) of Southport, North Carolina, died Nov. 14, 2024. He held a doctorate in philosophy from UVA, along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in legal philosophy from Tulane University. He worked as a senior research director for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety based in Washington, D.C. He was passionate about environmental conservation and served on the Southport Forestry Committee. He enjoyed gardening, sailing, classical music and photography. Survivors include his wife, Molla Donaldson (Grad ’70); three daughters; five grandchildren; and a sister.

Charles Marshall “Chuck” Taylor III (Engr class of ’69) of Deltaville, Virginia, died Sept. 22, 2024. He attended Virginia Military Institute before earning his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UVA. He also held a business degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. After graduating from UVA, he accepted a commission in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, completing his branch officer training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He trained as a helicopter pilot at Fort Wolters, Texas, and Fort Rucker, Alabama, before being deployed to Vietnam, where he flew light observation missions in the OH-58 Jet Ranger and troop-transport missions in the UH-1 “Huey.” Upon his return, he continued to fly helicopters in the Virginia Army National Guard, eventually separating with the rank of captain. He worked as a civil engineer at Hankins & Anderson in Richmond and later joined Concrete Pipe & Products Co. Over the course of his career, he and his family also lived in Sacramento, California, and Dallas. They eventually settled back in Virginia, where he retired from Hanson Products as vice president of sales and technical services. He was an avid cyclist, kayaker, scuba diver and sailor. In his retirement he taught himself to sew tote bags and other items out of old sails. He remained a lifelong Virginia Cavaliers fan. Survivors include his wife, Stuart; two children; his sister Minerva Taylor (Col ’74); and a grandson.