In Memoriam: 1960s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Guy Ricker Cooter (Col class of ’60) of Danville, Virginia, died Dec. 28, 2023. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he earned his bachelor’s degree in history from UVA, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He received his master’s degree in commerce from the University of Richmond. He was past commissioner of the Central Virginia Soccer Referee’s Association and inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2007. He retired from the U.S. Small Business Administration. He frequently shared his opinions with the world in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Danville Register & Bee and briefly worked as a nature photographer. He loved the Sunday comics and a good pun. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Leah; two sons, David Guy Carter (Col ’91 CM) and Steven Ricker Carter (Col ’93 CM); two daughters-in-law, including Nicole Wieting Carter (Col ’95, Educ ’95 CM); and four grandchildren.

John Kenner Marlow (Com ’61 CM) of Front Royal, Virginia, died Feb. 4, 2024. He spent two years stationed in Germany as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Prior to his military service, he attended UVA on a football scholarship, graduating from the McIntire School of Commerce. He was the co-captain of the football team, lettered three times in track and played first-year basketball. He was also a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. After his education and military service, he built several apartment buildings and bought Marlow Motor Co. from his father. He later purchased Tri-State Nissan in Winchester, Virginia, and Marlow Ford in Luray, Virginia, and continued building homes and developing real estate in the area. He served 14 years on the Warren County Board of Supervisors and was a founding director of the Lord Fairfax Planning District Commission. He served as mayor of Front Royal from 1982 to 1990 and was a founder of the Warren County Educational Endowment. He was a founding director of Peoples Bank of Front Royal, a director at Jefferson Bank and a director of First Bank. He served as a director of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and was a chair of the board of trustees at Shenandoah University. Survivors include his wife, Joyce; four daughters, including Emily Marlow Beck (Col ’99 CM); three siblings; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Marléne Stanton (Educ class of ’61) of Delray Beach, Florida, died Feb. 23, 2024. She received her master’s degree in education from UVA after earning her undergraduate degree from Barnard College. She later went back to school, earning her master’s degree in instruction and curriculum and English as a second language at Kean University in 1993. Throughout her career, she was a classroom teacher in New Jersey, New York and Virginia, as well as an adjunct professor at the Union County College Industry-Business Institute, teaching ESL in specialized on-site courses. She briefly entered the business world, working as both a placement counselor and an underwriter, before ultimately returning to teaching. She supported many causes, including Hadassah and animal rights. She remained close with both college friends and those from her childhood, and she was known as an active, athletic person who was always on the go, whether it be a morning tennis match or a number of other activities. She enjoyed playing the piano and spending time with family, both humans and pets. Survivors include three children and two grandchildren.

The Rev. Nancy Sowers Whiteley (Nurs ’61 CM) of Rockbridge Baths, Virginia, died Feb. 24, 2024. She earned her nursing degree from UVA and worked primarily as a recovery room nurse during her medical career. Many years later, she returned to academia, graduating magna cum laude from James Madison University in May 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in general studies. This prepared her for Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, where she earned her master’s degree in divinity in 1989. That year she was ordained as a Presbyterian minister, performing numerous baptisms, marriages and funerals. She lived in Rockbridge Baths for 45 years, first in the manse and then later in her beloved cabin in the woods, nestled just above the Maury River. She was a lover of literature, travel, cats and snow. Survivors include two children, three grandchildren and three stepchildren.

John Jeremiah Funkhouser, M.D. (Med ’63 CM) of West Falmouth, Massachusetts, died Nov. 18, 2023. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. After graduating from Yale in 1959, he attended medical school at UVA. In 1964, he began military service and served as a ship’s doctor on the USS Oglethorpe in the Mediterranean Sea. He was later stationed at Oceana Naval Air Station, Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Philadelphia Naval Hospital and Saint Albans Naval Hospital on Long Island. In 1972, he and his family relocated to Massachusetts, where he practiced urology at Jordan Hospital and served as chief of surgery. He also worked at Falmouth Hospital, where he was president of staff during the 1980s. He co-founded Urology Clinic Inc. and was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He retired in 2009. He was chairman of the Major John Bradford House, co-founder of Bowerman’s Beach Club, president of Harbor Head Tennis Club, and an active member at Woods Hole Golf Club. He played classical piano throughout his life, and as a member of the Yale Alumni Chorus, he sang in concerts at Carnegie Hall and participated in two overseas tours. He enjoyed gardening, birdwatching, and collecting stamps and coins. Survivors include three children, including Christopher Funkhouser (Col ’86, Grad ’88 CM); sister Laura Ruml (Col ’74, Res ’90); and four grandchildren.

Oscar Stuart Chaplain Jr. (Educ class of ’64) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died Feb. 23, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University, his master’s degree in education from UVA, and a doctorate in education from George Washington University. He served as an elementary school principal in Virginia for 34 years. He authored the 1967 children’s book Snookums Sneaks Through and the 2018 novel Wilderness Honor. He was an avid historian, belonging to many organizations, including the Magna Carta Society, Jamestown Society and Order of Descendants of Ancient Planters. He enjoyed carving decoys and ships and was known for playing pranks on everyone he knew. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Betty; three daughters, including Lynn Gaffey (Col ’84, Nurs ’98); and six grandchildren.

Douglass North Ellis Jr. (Col ’65 CM) of Nantucket, Massachusetts, died Jan. 3, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He earned his bachelor’s degree at UVA, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, and his law degree at Boston College. He practiced law at Ropes & Gray for 36 years. During that time, he served as the firm’s hiring partner and chair. He led the evolution of the firm from its historical roots in Boston to a national powerhouse, growing its presence in New York and, later, Washington, D.C., bolstering the practice in private equity and litigation. He loved boating on the shores of Nantucket and gaming at the Wharf Rat Club. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Caroline; a daughter; a sister; and two nieces.

James Whitfield “Jim” Vick (Grad ’66, ’68 CM) of Austin, Texas, died Nov. 8, 2023. At UVA, he earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in philosophy after completing his undergraduate education at Louisiana State University. While he was studying at UVA, both of his children were born in Charlottesville. He enjoyed a long and successful career at the University of Texas at Austin, serving as associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences and vice president of student affairs, in addition to his responsibilities as a professor. He was also appointed to the Men’s Athletic Council, eventually becoming its chairman. As a professor, he became famous around campus for studying his students’ pictures before class so he could call them by name from the first day. He also would invite students to dinners at his house so he could get to know them outside the classroom. His dedication to the profession was commemorated with many teaching awards, including the Jean Holloway Award, the Texas Excellence Award, Parents Association Award of Distinction and the Nowotny Medal, among others. He and his wife traveled every year to spend time in the mountains and national parks. He was also passionate about sports and put significant effort into coaching his children’s teams over the years. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, trivia and playing the banjo, and he was a prolific poet. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Niki; an older brother; two children; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Arthur A. Autorino (Engr ’69 CM) of Eastham, Massachusetts, died Feb. 4, 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from UVA, followed by a master’s degree in industrial administration from Union College. He had a successful career, starting as a managerial trainee at GE and moving on to vice president positions at Smith & Wesson, Murray, TheraSense and Abbott Diabetes Care. After retiring, he embraced the beaches and life in Eastham, becoming heavily involved in the community. He was a volunteer at the National Seashore, a board member at the Nauset Light Preservation Society and treasurer of the Eastham Historical Society. Elected to the Eastham Select Board in 2020, he was serving as its chairman at the time of his death. Survivors include his wife, Georgia Autorino (Nurs ’69); three daughters; and four grandchildren.

Col. Phillip Lyle Blake (Grad class of ’69) of San Antonio died July 30, 2022. The son of a U.S. Army infantry colonel, he spent his career in the Army as well. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1960 and earned his master’s degree in English from UVA in 1969. He began his military career with the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and later served a second tour with the 101st as a battalion executive officer. He served three tours in Vietnam, the first with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which deployed in May 1965 from Okinawa, Japan, as the first U.S. Army ground unit to Vietnam. He taught English at West Point from 1969 to 1972. He graduated from the Infantry Officer Career Course, the Armed Forces Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. He also led the Army ROTC Department at the University of Alabama. His final assignment was as senior regular Army adviser to the commanding general of the 95th Infantry Division, Camp Robinson, Arkansas. His awards and decorations included two Legions of Merit, the Soldier’s Medal for heroism, three Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. Upon retirement, he earned a teacher’s certificate from Southwest Texas State University and taught high school English for one year before being appointed Commandant of Cadets at Marion Military Institute in Alabama, where he served from 1990 to 1994. He enjoyed reading, writing, lifting weights and cycling. Survivors include his wife, Reda; two children; three brothers; and five grandchildren.

George Partridge Greenhalgh III (Col ’69 CM) of Boyce, Virginia, died Jan. 18, 2024. A U.S. Army veteran, he completed Army ROTC training at UVA, becoming the third generation of his family to serve after graduation as a U.S. Army artillery officer. During his time on Grounds, he played polo and was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. He worked for Diversified Educational Systems, marketing training products to educational institutions, and operated the Fairfield Farm Market as an outlet for hydroponic produce. He began a career in real estate in the mid-1980s, eventually joining his wife at Greenhalgh Real Estate, specializing in country properties. In 1998, he took over managing his family’s farm, Shan Hill. Born into an avid equestrian family, he served as a board member for Virginia Polo and was a lifelong member of the Middleburg Polo Club. He passed his passion for polo on to his daughters, who competed for UVA. Survivors include his wife, Robin; his children Langdon Greenhalgh (Col ’97 CM), Blakeley Greenhalgh (Col ’00 CM), Sybil Greenhalgh Price (Col ’10) and Marjorie (Meg) Greenhalgh Pryde (Com ’12, Darden ’18 CM); and six grandchildren.

John Randolph Light (Col ’69, Darden ’74 CM) of Roanoke, Virginia, died Aug. 6, 2023. He served for two years in Guam as a naval supply officer. An Echols Scholar in the ROTC program, he earned his bachelor’s degree at UVA in English and religion. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Raven and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies. After completing his undergraduate studies, he earned his business degree from Darden. He worked for Baxter Laboratories in Chicago, then started Commonwealth Door & Hardware with his brother in Roanoke. He was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Roanoke and cherished his years of service on the board of Mill Mountain Theatre. His fondest memories were of his family and friends at UVA football games. Survivors include his wife, Juliet; a brother; three children, including Mary Light Dusenbury (Col ’93 CM) and Maggie Light (Col ’01 CM); and six grandchildren, including Anna Light (Col ’25).