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In Memoriam | Fall 2012

In Memoriam: 1970s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Thomas A. “Clem” Giacofci (Engr ’70 L/M) of Haymarket, Va., died June 12, 2012. He was a retired civil engineer. Mr. Giacofci organized the annual Neighborhood Art Show at Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, Va., and was an avid fisherman, seafood connoisseur and boater. Survivors include a daughter, Dana Giacofci (Col ’04).

Martha Higgins Shipe (Educ ’70) of Warrenton, Va., died May 31, 2012. In the 1950s, she taught home economics at Warrenton High School. Ms. Shipe later taught English at Warrenton Junior High and Fauquier High School and served as director of guidance at Cedar Lee Junior High before retiring from the Fauquier County Public Schools in 1988.

Martha Brown Hamrick (Educ ’71) of Staunton, Va., died July 23, 2012. She taught in Staunton Public Schools prior to raising her family. Ms. Hamrick later returned to teach sophomore English at Robert E. Lee High School until her retirement in 1983. She was a member of Thursday Morning Music Club and of Delta Kappa Gamma professional honorary society of women educators. Survivors include a daughter, Martha Peyton Hamrick (Darden ’75).

Charles A. Hobbs V (Col ’71) of Torrington, Wyo., died April 29, 2012. He served in the U.S. Air Force and although he retired as a highly decorated officer in 1994, he continued as a civilian auditor for another 10 years. After his retirement, Mr. Hobbs learned to fly and spent many hours soaring through the skies of Wyoming.

Clarence “Clancy” Haverty Ridley (Law ’71) of Atlanta died May 10, 2012. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a first lieutenant, and was decorated for outstanding service. Following law school, Mr. Ridley practiced corporate law at King & Spalding, where he was elected partner and served as chairman of the firm. In 1987, he co-authored a treatise on software licensing, Computer Software Agreements: Forms and Commentary. After retiring in 2000, he served as chairman of Haverty Furniture Companies until 2010, and as chairman emeritus until his death. He served on the board of visitors of Emory University and on the boards of Leadership Atlanta, the Carter Center and the High Museum of Art, among others.

Van Melvin Davis (Grad ’72 L/M) of Hot Springs, Ark., died April 29, 2012. He taught history and political science at National Park Community College for nearly 38 years. His main areas of interest were the Civil War and presidents Jefferson and Lincoln. Mr. Davis ran more than 60 marathons, completing the Boston Marathon five times and the Pike’s Peak Marathon eight times. He was a Dodgers baseball fan who loved trains, bluegrass and rock music, reading, Cool Whip, jelly beans and polka dancing with his wife.
Ronald Jerome Jordan (Educ ’72) of Roanoke, Va., died June 10, 2012. He began his teaching career in Lynchburg, Va., and retired as a mathematics teacher from the Roanoke City Public Schools. Survivors include his wife, Doris P. Jordan (Educ ’75).

David H. Meador (Col ’72 L/M) of Moneta, Va., died April 13, 2012. At the University, he volunteered with Madison House. He worked as the creative director and writer for a business he owned with his wife, Sharon. Survivors include a sister, Alice Meador (Col ’78).

Joel Henderson “Tick” Vicars III (Arch ’72 L/M) of Boise, Idaho, died July 16, 2012. He served in the U.S. Navy. At the University, Mr. Vicars volunteered with Madison House. In the 1970s, he served as the director of codes and standards with the American Institute of Architects in Washington, D.C., and developed expertise in planning, permitting and entitlement processes. He later worked for an international architecture firm in Seattle and then for the Santa Fe Home Builders Association in Santa Fe, N.M. There Mr. Vicars volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and enjoyed long road trips through the Southwest. In 2000, he and his wife moved to Boise, where Mr. Vicars worked most recently as an associate broker with the Coldwell Banker/Tomlinson Group, assisting with commercial acquisitions and providing development services.

Kenneth S. Lawrence Sr. (Educ ’73) of Wake Forest, N.C., died July 17, 2012. He taught biology and chemistry for Henrico County Schools and later became a high school assistant principal and the county’s first minority high school principal. In 1989, Mr. Lawrence and his family relocated to Dumfries, Va., where he served the Prince William County School System as an assistant principal, principal and supervisor of the school system’s transportation and planning department. Upon his retirement, he formed an education consulting business.

James Franklin “Jim” Mixson II (Col ’73 L/M) of Greenville, Miss., died April 7, 2012. At the University, he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity and volunteered with Madison House. Mr. Mixson practiced law for 35 years. He was a keen student of history and an avid reader who enjoyed playing board games with his family.
Paul Meredith Wodlinger (Med ’74 L/M) of Issaquah, Wash., died July 29, 2012. Dr. Wodlinger worked as a pediatrician in Washington state for nearly 20 years. He loved watching sports, especially the Pittsburgh Penguins, and attending games. Dr. Wodlinger was also a car enthusiast.

Thomas Dunning Daley (Col ’76) of Richmond, Va., died June 4, 2012. He was the deputy director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Mr. Daley worked at the University of Virginia, the College of William and Mary, the Virginia Community College System and the State Council of Higher Education throughout his higher education career, which spanned more than 30 years. He enjoyed music, attending U.Va. athletic events and vacationing at the Outer Banks and Wintergreen. Survivors include his son, Thomas B. Daley (Col ’14).

Jeffrey Frederick Harper (Grad ’78) of Houston died May 18, 2012. He was assistant professor of internal medicine and pharmacology at the University of Texas Medical School from 1980 to 1987. After leaving the medical school, he became the owner of an industrial ceramic inspection and testing company that grew into International Refractory Service, Inc. Mr. Harper changed careers again in 1998, when he began working for Askesis Development Group, Inc., a subsidiary of the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, where he worked in computer data management and served as vice president for development and manager of the client services division. He also served as a volunteer in many capacities. Mr. Harper collected fruit jars and other memorabilia made by the Ball Corporation, a company founded by his great-grandfather and great-uncles. Survivors include his wife, Mary Pieroni Harper (Educ ’75).

Robert D. Wilson Jr. (Col ’78) of Plano, Texas, died April 17, 2012. At the University, he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity. Mr. Wilson was a longtime employee of Hewlett-Packard in Texas.

Keith D. Field (Arch ’79) of New Orleans died April 15, 2012. At the University, he was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi fraternity. Mr. Field moved to Florida after graduation and formed his own company. He was a member and past president of the Master Custom Builder Council of central Florida.