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In Memoriam | Fall 2020

In Memoriam: 1970s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Peter Hall Herwick (Med ’71 CM) of Paradise Valley, Arizona, died May 7, 2020. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he played football, before attending medical school. While at UVA, he completed one of the school’s first externships to the Indian Health Service Hospital in Fort Defiance in Arizona. He returned to Arizona for his internship, after which he practiced emergency medicine for five years before training for orthopedic surgery and trauma. He practiced at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital for 23 years and served as chief of surgery at Scottsdale-Osborn Hospital. Life-threatening cancer led to his retirement in 2004 but allowed him to pursue a lifelong passion for any high-risk endeavor, including skiing, triathlons, marathons, and going fast on anything with wheels. An avid mountain climber, he had notable ascents including Mount McKinley, Huascarán in Peru, and a winter ascent of Grand Teton in Wyoming. His travels in the U.S. and Europe provided ample opportunity to research museums, military exhibits, architectural sites, Roman history and performances of all music styles. Mr. Herwick was a history buff and voracious reader who often quoted the material he absorbed. He shared his love of the great outdoors with friends who helped his dreams come true. Survivors include his wife, Jan; children Sarah and Jonathan; a grandson; and a brother.


Clifford Weckstein (Col ’71 CM) of Roanoke, Virginia, died June 20, 2020. At UVA, where he lived on the Lawn, he was a leader in the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and the University Guide Service. After earning his law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law of the College of William & Mary, he began practicing law in the Roanoke law office of Barry N. Lichtenstein. In 1987, at age 39, he began a 28-year career as a judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit, comprising Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Salem. At his retirement in 2015, he was the longest-serving active circuit court judge in Virginia. As a judge, Mr. Weckstein distinguished himself as a thoughtful, compassionate jurist of unquestioned integrity with an encyclopedic knowledge of the law. He held leadership positions in the Judicial Conference of Virginia, the Virginia State Bar and other organizations. For nearly 30 years, he taught at the National Trial Advocacy College at the UVA School of Law, which in 2003 honored him with the William J. Brennan Jr. Award. He was a former board member at Roanoke’s Beth Israel Synagogue. Known for his quick wit, intelligence, and gentle, self-effacing humor, Mr. Weckstein was a devoted and generous friend to many. He read voraciously and enjoyed a wide range of movies. He was a spectacular gift-giver and loved to sing in his booming baritone voice. Survivors include his wife, Ginger Eure; children Ginny, Meg and Ben; three grandchildren; his sister, Barbara Weckstein Kaplowitz (Col ’79 CM); and his brother, Daniel Weckstein (Col ’75 CM). 


Frank DeWitt (Col ’72 CM) of Pittsburgh died March 27, 2020. His passion was basketball. After serving as a co-captain on the UVA basketball team, he played the game professionally in Europe for many years. Upon returning home, he coached in various capacities throughout his life. He was also an avid reader and gardener. Mr. DeWitt was a fierce competitor, a great teammate and an extraordinary friend.


Ida VSW Red (Grad ’72) of Mill Valley, California, died May 11, 2020. Ms. Red grew up in Wytheville, Virginia, graduated from Mary Baldwin College, and raised a family in Harrisonburg. After completing her master’s in English literature at UVA, she went on to earn a master’s in library science at Catholic University, eventually serving as document librarian and editor for the Aging Health Policy Institute at the University of California San Francisco. She was a founder of the Oak Grove Theater in Verona, Virginia, and was active in local theater until she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1976. There, she became deeply involved with Mothertongue: A Feminist Readers’ Theater and continued to pursue other writing and creative projects. A chapbook of her poetry is in progress. Survivors include her daughters, Judith Wood (Arch ’81) and Becca Wood Knox (Engr ’86 CM). 


Collett Thach (Col ’72, Darden ’78 CM) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, died May 15, 2020. His career in corporate marketing led him to work for the Miller Brewing Co., Hanesbrands and Lorillard Tobacco Co. He volunteered in support of his children’s activities, for his church, and as chair of the building committee for his swim and tennis club. Mr. Thach lived a life of devotion to his family; he never met a stranger and shared great loyalty among friends. A lifelong learner, he embraced curiosity and community. He enjoyed the challenge of sports and danced with his wife through life’s celebrations. Survivors include his wife, Lawren; children Kathryn Thach Banerji (Col ’05, Darden ’11 CM) and Compton; and his brothers, John Thach (Col ’74, Darden ’80 CM) and Presley Thach (Col ’79).


G. Hamilton “Ham Lob” Loeb (Col ’73) of Washington, D.C., died July 30, 2018. At UVA, where he was known as Ham Lob, he was an Echols Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Raven Society and the Judiciary Committee. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1978, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He clerked for James Browning, chief judge of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, before practicing as a litigation partner with the Paul Hastings law firm in Washington, D.C. During his career, he served as managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office, head of the international trade practice, and vice chair of the firm’s litigation department. He served as co-chair of the American Bar Association’s International Trade Committee. He co-founded the Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts and served as its president for seven years. Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Schlitz Loeb (Col ’72); a son and a daughter; three grandchildren; and a brother.


Charles R. Williams (Col ’74 CM) of Darien, Connecticut, died June 7, 2020. At UVA, he was a member of St. Elmo Hall. He was a senior vice president in private wealth management at UBS, where he had worked for nearly 40 years, beginning when it was Kidder Peabody. He began his career in New York City at Irving Trust Company in 1975. His love of family and tradition was one of his truest attributes. He adored his siblings, and he gained his love and appreciation of antique cars and wooden boats from his father. He was immensely proud of his wife and daughters. The ultimate girl-dad, he taught his daughters how to ride a bike and ice skate, how to drive a boat and how to be fiercely loyal to family and friends. He loved to laugh, to dance and to help others. He was the life of the party, a welcoming and smiling face, always eager to talk to anyone and everyone, tell stories and share his passion for boats, cars, cooking, travel, Deerfield, UVA and Michigan. Survivors include his wife, Amy; daughters Christy Williams Coombs (Col ’05 CM) and Hillery Williams (Col ’08 CM); two brothers, including Phil Williams (Col ’71 CM); and a sister. 


Robin Darden Thomas (Col ’75, Educ ’78) of Cleveland died June 4, 2020. An Echols Scholar, she received her bachelor’s in psychology before going on to earn her master’s in special education. She later received an MBA from Cleveland State University. After teaching special education in Vermont and Ohio, she served Cuyahoga County, Ohio, for 28 years in various capacities including director of operations in the auditor’s office, chief deputy treasurer and interim county treasurer. She was the land bank program director for Cleveland’s Thriving Communities (Western Reserve Land Conservancy) for the past nine years. She was also an advocate for civil rights and the LGBTQ community. She loved traveling, raising orchids, reading, supporting local arts and crafts, and above all her family. Survivors include three sons, one stepdaughter, two grandchildren, and four siblings.


Roberta Lea Hutchison (Col ’79 CM) died June 1, 2020. She earned her bachelor’s degree in what was then a new discipline of environmental science. She began work as a software engineer and soon earned a master’s degree in computer science from George Washington University. In the mid-1990s, Ms. Hutchison went back to GWU and, through many hours of classroom and field training, became a landscape designer without equal. She and her husband later fulfilled a dream to move to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. For the next 18 years, she helped create breathtaking gardens and vistas in every corner of the island. Her contributions and designs will be enjoyed for decades. The couple retired to Naples, Florida, in 2017, where she graduated from the two-year Greater Naples Leadership master’s program. As an adult, she was always interested in science, nature and community service. She is survived by her husband, John; and her father and sister.