In Memoriam: 1970s
Notices sorted by graduation date
George E. “Ted” Allen III (Col ’70, Law ’73 L/M) of Richmond, Virginia, died March 29, 2017. At the University, he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He practiced law for 42 years at the law firm Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, serving as president of the firm from 1990 to 1999. He also served as president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, now the American Association for Justice. Mr. Allen treasured his family above all else. Survivors include his wife; a daughter; sons William G. Allen (Col ’07) and David H. Allen (Law ’19); a grandson; two granddaughters; his mother; and two sisters.
John E. “Buck” McNeal (Grad ’70) of Port Royal, Pennsylvania, died March 1, 2017. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. At the University, he served on the Honor Committee. He attended Millersville State College, the University of Delaware, the University of Virginia and West Virginia University. Mr. McNeal taught in public schools in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He also was an associate professor of American history at Saint Francis University and a lawyer for the U.S. government in Washington, D.C. He enjoyed running, coaching sports and reading. Survivors include his wife, a daughter, two sons and seven grandchildren.
Lewis West Oehmig Jr. (Col ’71 L/M) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, died March 25, 2017. At the University, he was a member of the Fraternity of Delta Psi (St. Anthony Hall). He spent his career in the travel industry, first acquiring the Tennessee Valley Travel Agency. He later opened another firm, Oehmig Travel Consultancy. He also served as chairman of the advisory board of API/Virtuoso, a network of luxury travel agents and advisors. Mr. Oehmig regarded travel as essential to the development of character and spirit. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, cards and Sunday dinners with family. He also loved to read, write, paint and tell stories. Survivors include three sons, Lewis W. Oehmig III (Col ’05 L/M), Neil M. Oehmig (Col ’06 L/M) and William M. K. Oehmig (Col ’08); and a daughter.
Eric H. Conn (Col ’72 L/M) of Annapolis, Maryland, died February 4, 2017. At the University, he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity. After graduation, he attended the Duke University School of Medicine. He did further training at Yale New Haven Hospital before completing his cardiology fellowship at Duke. He was the managing partner at the Chattanooga Heart Institute, where he practiced for 35 years. In 2016, Dr. Conn retired to Annapolis to be closer to his children. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, including Anna G. Conn (Col ’11) and Alexandra P. Conn (Col ’13); a son; three brothers; and a sister.
Nevel DeHart (Col ’73) of Waterford, Virginia, died January 29, 2017. At the University, he served as a resident advisor, was involved in intramural sports and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was a business executive and a devoted father. Survivors include his wife and a daughter.
Frederick C. “Rick” Kniesler (Arch ’76 L/M) of Asbury Park, New Jersey, died January 29, 2017. At the University, he was a member of the P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Society and served as business editor of the Cavalier Daily. As an adolescent, he built a greenhouse and sold tomatoes and marigolds at craft fairs. After graduating from the University and completing a master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania, he became a landscape architect. He worked for several municipalities and engineering firms in both Monmouth County and Ocean County in New Jersey. Mr. Kniesler served as president of the New Jersey State Board of Architects and was an active member of several other landscape architecture and planning boards and associations at the state and national levels. A lifelong history buff, he was active in the Monmouth County Historical Association and served a term as its president. He enjoyed spending his free time at the Jersey Shore. Survivors include two daughters; his parents; two brothers, including Chris Kniesler (Col ’78 L/M); and a sister.
James P. Baker Jr. (Engr ’77, Darden ’81 L/M) of Southern Pines, North Carolina, died March 23, 2017. At the University, he was a member of the football team, Sigma Chi fraternity and the Raven Society. After graduation, he began his career at the Trammell Crow Company as a commercial real estate broker. He later founded and sold Westchase Development Corp. and worked as president of the Lundy Group in Raleigh, North Carolina, for over 30 years. Mr. Baker served on the board of the North State Bank in Raleigh and was a volunteer and board member at the Carolina Horse Park. He was an avid event rider and enjoyed polo. He also ran marathons and competed in over 100 triathlons. Survivors include his wife, Adele Campbell Baker (Col ’82); a son; and a daughter, Sarah Lundy Baker (Col ’11 L/M).
James Michael Nardi (Col ’77) of Tacoma, Washington, died March 3, 2017. After graduating from the University and completing a master’s degree in accounting at Georgetown University, he worked as a certified public accountant with Price Waterhouse Coopers. In 1998, he and his wife moved from Virginia to Tacoma, where Mr. Nardi managed his wife’s medical practice until 2012. He enjoyed woodworking, golfing, skiing at White Pass in Washington, spoiling his dog and spending time with his family. Survivors include his wife; two daughters; four brothers, including David Nardi (Col ’68) and Thomas “Tom” Nardi (Educ ’65 L/M); six nieces, including Cristine “Cris” Nardi (Col ’88 L/M) and Brennan Nardi (Col ’93); and a nephew.
Catherine Kenney Hale (Col ’78 L/M) of Alexandria, Virginia, died March 31, 2017. At the University, she volunteered with Madison House. She worked in personnel and as a meeting planner for several agencies of the federal government and at a trade association, all in Washington, D.C. Survivors include her husband, Richard A. Hale (Engr ’78, ’80 L/M), and a sister, Mary E. Kenney Brenner (Educ ’85).
Joanne M. Phillips (Nurs ’79 L/M) of Charlottesville died March 26, 2017. After graduation, she worked as a nurse for the University of Virginia Health System for 34 years. She also worked for a physician in Charlottesville for six years. A member of the American Nurses Association and the Virginia Nurses Association, she also volunteered with the University of Virginia Hospital Auxiliary and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad. An avid traveler, Ms. Phillips toured 71 countries on five continents. She also enjoyed playing bridge and working in her rose and flower gardens. Survivors include two nieces.