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In Memoriam | Winter 2023

In Memoriam: 1960s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Jesse E. Graham Sr. (Col ’60, Law ’64 CM) of Winter Park, Florida, died Sept. 17, 2023. He served in the U.S. Army, with six months in active duty followed by seven and a half years in the Army Reserve. He began as a second lieutenant with a final promotion to captain and he also served as a judge advocate in the General Corps. He earned both his bachelor’s in philosophy and his law degree at UVA, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall, the P.K. Society, Army ROTC, and the Glee Club. After moving to Florida, he started practicing law with Akerman in Orlando, and in 1968 opened his own law practice. He grew the firm throughout the following years and retired after 50 years of practice. He was a member of the Charter Review Commission for Orange County, supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as a corporate fundraiser, and was a board member to the Orlando March of Dimes. He was also an avid golfer, enjoying games in Florida as well as England, Ireland and Scotland. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Kathleen; two children, including Jesse E. Graham Jr. (Com ’90 CM); and five grandchildren.

Robert R. “Bob” Lowe (Com ’60) of Pepper Pike, Ohio, died July 4, 2023. While studying finance at UVA, he was a member of the men’s tennis team, a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, and a Lawn resident. After graduation, he began a career as an entrepreneur. He ran several businesses, including a hospital billing service, a truck parts supply store, a chain of Amy Joy doughnut bakeries, and a rubber manufacturing plant. He remained an avid tennis player and in 1993 was named the top-ranked player in the Midwest for his age group. Later in life he became devoted to online chess. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, JoAnne; two sons; and four grandchildren, including Abigail Hartley Lowe (Col ’27). 

Russell Hill Roberts (Col ’60, Law ’63) of Fredericksburg, Virginia, died Aug. 29, 2023. He earned both his bachelor’s degree and his law degree from UVA, where he was a member of the men’s wrestling team and Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He practiced law in the Fredericksburg area from 1963 until 2013. He worked for many law organizations, including serving as president of the Fredericksburg Area Bar Association, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, and Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. He received the distinguished honor of being selected as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He volunteered for several local institutions, including the University of Mary Washington and the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, fly fishing and upland bird hunting. After retirement, he spent winters in Key Largo, Florida, with his wife, Martha, who predeceased him. Survivors include his wife, Rosalyn; two daughters, including Mary Roberts Yarmy (Engr ’88 CM); his sister; and many nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Margaret (Peggy) Gregory Lau (Nurs ’61 CM) of Honolulu, Hawaii, died Aug. 28, 2023. Originally from Amherst, Virginia, she earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from UVA and her master’s in public health from the University of Hawaii. From 1966 to 1968 she served as a clinical instructor of community health nursing at UVA School of Nursing. Returning to Hawaii to live and work in 1969, she spent most of her nursing career in utilization review, quality management and hospital administration. She felt her education at UVA had prepared her for a successful life and career. Survivors include her husband, Lot, and one son.

Elsie Johnson (Nurs ’62) of Charlottesville died July 23, 2023. She graduated from the UVA Jackson P. Burley Nursing Program, developed with the purpose of training Black students to become licensed nurse practitioners over the course of 18 months. In April 2019, she was recognized as one of the so-called “hidden nurses” who participated in the University’s segregated nursing program through the 1950s and ’60s. After receiving her LPN, she took a job at UVA Hospital, where she eventually became the charge night nurse of the neonatal intensive care unit, formerly known as the newborn special care unit. Later, after her children were grown, she worked for the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department. She was known as a “community mom” to many and as an excellent cook who made delicious homemade rolls. Survivors include three children, including Kathy Johnson Harris (Educ ’77); a sister; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Nathan Robert “Nat” Turner Sr. (Engr ’62) of Wirtz, Virginia, died Aug. 19, 2023. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UVA, where he was a member of the Trigon Engineering Society, and went on to earn his master’s at Penn State. He enjoyed a 61-year career at General Electric/Lockheed Martin as a chief engineer designing vital U.S. space systems and defense. Outside of work, he enjoyed repairing vehicles and taking on various building projects. Survivors include his wife, Jessie; five children, including Andrew Turner (Engr ’00 CM) and Natalie Sohn (Col ’09, Batten ’10, Law ’13 CM); two siblings, including Robin Cooper (Col ’77); eight grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, including Ainsley Cooper Revercomb (Col ’09 CM) and Anna Cooper (Com ’18 CM); daughter-in-law Corrie Clark (Engr ’02);and son-in-law Will Sohn (Law ’12).

Malcolm Matheson Randolph (Col ’64) of Richmond, Virginia, died Aug. 14, 2023. He attended UVA, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity and Corks & Curls, before graduating from the University of Richmond. For 47 years he led Richmond Primoid Inc., a family business founded by his father, E. Fairfax Randolph (Col ’37), in 1947. It specializes in waterproofing, specialty coatings, structural restoration and concrete repair. He was also committed to his work with the Bon Secours Richmond Health Care Foundation, where he supported a scholarship to the St. Mary’s Hospital School of Practical Nursing, and Goodwill of Central Virginia. He was a season ticket holder for UVA basketball and football for many years. He enjoyed playing golf and traveling on his boat between Virginia and Florida. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Olivia; four children, including Margaret R. Pace (Col ’94 CM) and Malcolm M. Randolph Jr. (Col ’02 CM); his brother, E. Fairfax Randolph Jr. (Col ’62); and nine grandchildren, including Michael McCullough Campbell Jr. (Col ’25).

Virginia R. Francisco (Grad ’66) of Staunton, Virginia, died Sept. 21, 2023. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Mary Baldwin College before earning her master’s in English from UVA. She also held a doctorate from Indiana University. A theater professor at Mary Baldwin College for over 40 years, she taught courses in theater history and literature, directed more than 50 plays and served on numerous committees. Her Mary Baldwin career also included several years of service as an associate dean for special programs. She was a leader for Habitat for Humanity, promoted classical music for the Staunton Music Festival and was one of the founders of the Oak Grove Folk Music Festival. She loved traveling and guided educational trips to London, China, Egypt and Eastern Europe. Survivors include her daughter, her brother, two nieces and one nephew.

Janet Ellen Fisher Sleppy (Nurs ’66 CM) of Canton, Georgia, died July 21, 2023. She attended the School of Nursing at UVA with her identical twin sister, Joyce Anne Fisher Laux (Nurs ’66 CM), graduating in September 1966. She worked as a registered nurse at Hampton General Hospital in Virginia and Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland. After moving to Georgia, she worked for the medical practice of Drs. Palay, Frank and Brown in Midtown Atlanta until she retired in 2000. Her many hobbies included sewing, crocheting, embroidery, cake decorating, gardening, theatrical performances, being at the seashore, line dancing, watching college football, traveling, and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s musical and athletic activities. She was an active and involved member of the Kiwanis Club. In addition to her twin sister, survivors include two children, three grandchildren, a sister, two brothers, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Richard Gordon Wilmoth (Engr ’67, ’73 CM) of Williamsburg, Virginia, died Sept. 4, 2023. He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering science from Tennessee Tech University before heading to UVA to earn both his master’s in aerospace engineering and his doctorate in engineering physics. He worked as a senior research scientist at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, for 41 years. His work influenced next-generation flight technologies, including the space shuttle and the Mars orbiter. As he entered retirement, he worked for fun as a principal research scientist at Combustion Research and Flow Technology in Pipersville, Pennsylvania, for nine years. His children knew him as Dad, the rocket scientist. He enjoyed coaching their Little League baseball teams. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Susan Davis, two sons, a brother and six grandchildren.

Gene Layton Davis, MD (Col ’68, Med ’72 CM) of Keystone, Colorado, died Aug. 31, 2023. He earned both his bachelor’s in chemistry and his medical degree at UVA, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, a member of the pep band, and a Lawn resident. He also holds an M.B.A. from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. Following medical school graduation, he completed an internship in internal medicine at Washington University in St. Louis and completed a residency in diagnostic radiology at Washington University’s Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. Following his residency, he served as an assistant professor of clinical radiology for many years. He practiced for 37 years at Christian Northwest Hospital, Incarnate Word Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center. He was active in professional organizations, serving as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer for the Greater St. Louis Society of Radiologists and as a councilor for Missouri to the American College of Radiology. He was a fellow of the American College of Radiology. He enjoyed traveling, gardening, and obedience and agility training his dogs. Since retiring in 2013, he lived full time in Keystone, Colorado, where he was an avid skier. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Gretchen, and his son.

Richard S. Shank (Arch ’68 CM) of Charlottesville died July 14, 2023. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from UVA. He and Bob Gray (Arch ’73) co-founded a Charlottesville-based contemporary architecture firm, Shank & Gray Architects, maintaining a close partnership that spanned over 45 years. His influence can be seen in a number of Albemarle County buildings, including the Charlottesville City Hall Annex and the Our Lady of Angels Monastery in Crozet. He also had a second career in the restaurant and hospitality business. He designed and operated Charley’s and Trio Restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina, for over 35 years. He enjoyed wine, travel, UVA athletics, tennis, golf and opera. He and his wife of 57 years, Linda F. Shank (Nurs ’71, ’88 CM), attended the Santa Fe Opera each summer for 20 years. One of his favorite activities was hosting dinner parties for friends and family. In addition to his wife, survivors include his two children, Sam Shank (Col ’95 CM) and Sara Shank (Col ’96); two siblings; and two grandchildren, including Spencer Shank (Col ’27).

J. Francis Amos, MD (Med ’69) of Rocky Mount, Virginia, died June 8, 2023. A graduate of UVA Medical School, he practiced medicine with longtime friend and business partner, Jack Bumgardner Jr., MD (Col ’68 CM), in their hometown of Rocky Mount for 35 years. He also served as the first director of the Carilion Family Medicine Residency program and assistant professor of the Family Practice Residency program through UVA in Roanoke, Virginia. He served as a past president of the Virginia Academy of Family Practice. He also maintained a lifelong interest in historic preservation and served as a past president of the Franklin County Historical Society. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Laquita, four children, a brother, seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

James “Jim” Herrell Rollins (Law ’69) of North Yarmouth, Maine, died July 15, 2022. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army in artillery units at both Fort Bliss, Texas, and later Bitburg, Germany. Previously, he attended Davidson College on a ROTC scholarship before attending law school at UVA, where he was a member of the rugby team. He began his law career in Atlanta, eventually joining the Creditor’s Rights Group of the Atlanta office of Holland & Knight as a partner specializing in the representation of lenders. He was active in many civic and charitable organizations and was proud of his involvement with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and Olmsted Linear Park Alliance. After retiring in 2017, he moved to Maine, where he became a trustee and pro bono adviser to Maine Preservation. He remained an avid Atlanta sports fan and continued playing rugby for many years. Survivors include his wife, Jillian, two children, two stepdaughters, a sister, and many step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.