In Memoriam: 2010s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Blair E. Phillips (Arch ’11 L/M) of Falls Church, Va., died Jan. 19, 2013. At the University, he was elected to the Raven Society and was a member and music director of the Academical Village People. Mr. Phillips was a 2010 Steamboat Foundation Scholar and completed an internship at Reed Hilderbrand, a landscape architecture firm in the Boston area. In 2011, he began his architectural career with Perkins Eastman, where he worked on design projects including Washington, D.C.’s The Wharf: Southwest Waterfront. He was an accomplished classical pianist and vocalist.

Gregory J. Canty (Engr ’12 L/M) of Charlottesville died Feb. 20, 2013. At the University, he was a Hoo Crew member and served as a resident adviser for three years. Mr. Canty was the lead laboratory automation engineer and network administrator for the Felder Lab with the University’s department of pathology, where he led a small team in designing a system for growing cell cultures. In addition to his work in the lab, he provided sound engineering support for Culbreth Theatre and flew the radio-controlled blimp at Cavalier basketball games. He was a gifted problem solver, electronics designer, computer programmer and statistician who worked building a blog site that provided advice and tutorials on programming and information security. Survivors include his parents, Lynn Abidin Canty (Col ’83, Educ ’86 L/M) and Gregory A. Canty (Engr ’80); and his grandfather, Richard J. Abidin Jr., emeritus faculty member of the Curry School of Education.

John “Jake” Cusano III (Col ’16 L/M) of Morristown, N.J., died Feb. 15, 2013. At the University, he was a member of the Virginia men’s rowing club noted for his work ethic during both practices and races. Mr. Cusano was also a talented guitarist. Survivors include his father, John M. Cusano Jr. (Col ’86 L/M).