In Memoriam: 1970s
Notices sorted by graduation date
David L. Aldinger II (Col ’70 L/M) of McAlisterville, Pennsylvania, died Jan. 31, 2019. After receiving his undergraduate degree in biology, he earned his medical degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and completed his residency in family practice at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania. After practicing briefly elsewhere, he began his medical practice in McAlisterville in 1978 and retired in 2018 after 40 years. In earlier life, he enjoyed cycling and skiing, but his greatest joy was spending time with family. Dr. Aldinger was a lifetime Cavalier and took his family to Charlottesville often. Though he hoped all his children would attend UVA, one son’s graduate school years gave him another reason to visit. Survivors include his wife, Lucille; four children, including Drew Aldinger (Educ ’07); and three grandchildren.
John M. Martin II (Col ’70, Grad ’72) of Dallas and of Taos, New Mexico, died March 21, 2019. At UVA, he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology, he received his doctorate from Syracuse University in 1975. He had many and varied pursuits, including time on the faculty of University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in ophthalmology. He later earned degrees in printmaking and welding and joined his spouse, Judith, in co-owning Art Dallas and Commercial Art Services. He was an aviator and a certified U.S. Sailing instructor. A sculptor and painter, he produced a show of his works in Punta Gorda, Florida, where he and Judith also had a residence. He relished rowing, fly-fishing, biking, golf, photography, history and politics, and embracing iconoclastic viewpoints. Survivors include his spouse, a son and daughter, two grandchildren, three sisters and a brother.
Susan DuPont McConnell (Educ ’72) of Charlottesville died March 20, 2019. She lived a life of service and worked steadfastly to help others. She chaired the board of directors at Foxcroft School and served on the original property council for Montpelier, where she was instrumental in making the property available to the public. Ms. McConnell was a longtime member and vice chair of the UVA Cancer Center Advisory Board, and she volunteered at the UVA Infusion Center. She was regarded as a local in Clifden, Ireland, where she visited consistently for 25 years. Her love for the country and its people inspired her to breed her own herd of Connemara ponies. Ms. McConnell served as president of the American Connemara Pony Society and played a critical role in the promotion of the Connemara pony, both in the United States and around the world. She received a lifetime achievement award from the American Connemara Pony Society in 2018. As much as she was devoted to her farm, her work as a volunteer and her friends, her greatest love was always her daughters and their families. The legacy of her giving spirit, hard work, natural curiosity and zest for life will live on through them. Survivors include two daughters, four grandchildren, and her brother and sister.
J. Russell Parsons II (Engr ’72) of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and Nassawadox, Virginia, died March 27, 2019. He liked to say he loved school so much that he never left. After earning degrees from N.C. State University and UVA, he spent a year as a presidential intern at the National Bureau of Standards and the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. In 1977, he earned his doctorate in material science and biomaterials at the University of Pennsylvania. Later that year, he joined the faculty of the Department of Surgery in orthopedics at what was then the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. His research focused on materials technology for a variety of implants and biomechanics. He was granted 10 patents related to his research efforts. During his 31 years at UMDNJ, Mr. Parsons taught many students at Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology, and he was the graduate adviser to many graduate students. He was elected president of the Society for Biomaterials (USA) in 2000. In 2004, he was named a fellow of biomaterials science and engineering and a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Mr. Parsons served on numerous scientific advisory and editorial boards and for many years was assistant editor of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Mr. Parsons loved to race sailboats and over many summers competed in more than 60 races with his wife and loyal crew. He served as executive vice president and president of the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet-Middle Atlantic Region. Survivors include his wife, Janey; a sister; a nephew and a niece.
John B. Snowden IV (Com ’79 L/M) of Memphis died Nov. 6, 2018. At UVA, he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. He worked for Raymond James (formerly Morgan Keegan) for more than 37 years, including time as managing director. An accomplished athlete, he was distinguished in tennis and snow skiing, and he loved shooting skeet and hunting doves and ducks. He enjoyed summer vacations in Florida—sailing and deep-sea fishing with his father, son and friends. He shared his son’s enthusiasm for basketball and enjoyed watching his son play and taking him to Memphis Grizzlies games. Mr. Snowden had an affable personality and was beloved by all who knew him. Survivors include his son, father, sister and two brothers, and his former wife.