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In Memoriam | Summer 2019

In Memoriam: 1970s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Ernest “Early” Muntzing (Law ’70) of Atlanta died Dec. 5, 2018. After moving to Atlanta in the 1970s, Mr. Muntzing balanced his time among running a small business, loving his family, coaching soccer and participating in the community. He enjoyed a full life, betting on sports during weekly breakfasts with his friends, gardening, enjoying New York City and traveling the world. He created community and maintained fierce friendships wherever he went. Those who knew him loved him immediately. He was a moral compass and a selfless, steady force for many. Survivors include his wife, Susanne; three children; two grandchildren; and two sisters.


David Brooke Fitzgerald Delaney (Col ’71) of Floyd, Virginia, died Feb. 6, 2019. At UVA, he was on the staff of the Cavalier Daily. He earned his law degree from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas, before joining his father’s Alexandria, Virginia, firm, Delaney and Delaney, in 1977. He later opened an office in Fairfax. Mr. Delaney was known as a true Virginia gentleman and a family man. He was a lifelong learner and avid astronomer and pursued many other interests, from photography, hiking and gardening to World War II history. Survivors include his wife, Carol; two daughters, including Alyssa Delaney Nyen (Col ’02 L/M); three granddaughters; and four brothers and sisters. 


Margarita Sherertz Piper (Educ ’73, ’76 L/M) of Wilson, North Carolina, died Dec. 20, 2018. She earned her bachelor’s in Spanish from Mary Washington College before later attending UVA. She joined the C&P Telephone Co. in Washington, D.C., after college, rising through the ranks until she left in 1962 to have her first child. After the family moved to Culpeper, Virginia, she taught second grade at a local elementary school and later became director of the reading lab. She served as assistant principal at Rappahannock County Elementary School in 1980 before being appointed principal the following year. Ms. Piper later joined the school board office as director of pupil personnel and special services until her retirement in 1995. She held, at different times, memberships in various local, state and national education associations. Survivors include her son, daughter and five grandchildren.


Howard Griffith (Col ’76 L/M) of Centreville, Virginia, died March 20, 2019. After graduation, he received his master’s in divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and his doctorate from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He served as a pastor of All Saints Reformed Presbyterian Church for 23 years and later as academic dean and professor of systematic theology (emeritus) at Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., for 17 years. A gifted theologian, teacher and author, Mr. Griffith was passionate about helping others grow in their knowledge of the Bible. His combination of pastoral and academic experience equipped him to prepare others for ministry, and he did so with a deep humility, an abiding awe of God’s grace and a heart for others. Even in suffering, he was an example of peace, gratitude and sanctification, and he was always eager to share God’s goodness with family and friends. Survivors include his wife, Jacqueline; five children, including Alexander Griffith (Col ’05); and six grandchildren.


Jane Reese-Coulbourne (Engr ’78 L/M) of Annapolis, Maryland, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, died April 23, 2018. She earned her master’s degree in chemical engineering from UVA after receiving her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mary Washington College in 1976. She joined Procter & Gamble in Baltimore as one of the first female managers; her intelligence, wit and practical approach to solving problems helped her overcome fierce workplace opposition to having female managers. In one of her earliest positions there, she established a literacy program when she realized a portion of her employees were functionally illiterate. She became a consultant after more than 10 years at P&G, helping other manufacturing organizations improve their operations. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in her 30s, Ms. Reese-Coulbourne helped build one of the first patient advocacy organizations, spearheading a campaign that delivered more than 2.5 million signatures to the Clinton White House and resulted in unprecedented government funding for breast cancer research. She went on to devote decades to advocating for improved health care policy, more clinical research and access to effective therapies. She served on many boards and advisory panels dealing with health and advocacy issues, and she served as the executive director of the Lung Cancer Alliance, the Reagan-Udall Foundation and the Hearing Industries Association. Survivors include her husband, Bill Coulbourne (Engr ’99); two stepchildren; one granddaughter; and two brothers.


Linda Bognar Cargill (Educ ’79) of Tucson, Arizona, died Feb. 8, 2019. As a high school student in Pittsburgh, she won an honorable mention in the Atlantic Monthly Short Story Contest for Young Writers. After two years at Bryn Mawr College, she earned her English degree from Duke University, where she also earned a graduate degree. She wrote many novels, with over a half-million books in print in the U.S., Britain, Italy and Germany, and wrote a number of original young adult horror and thriller novels for the German publisher Cora Verlag, now part of HarperCollins. Ms. Cargill also published the award-winning To Follow the Goddess, which placed in the National Writers’ Contest. Creative and imaginative, she was a true free spirit. Survivors include her husband, Gary; a son; her mother, sister and brother.