Skip to main content

In Memoriam | Summer 2026

In Memoriam: Faculty & Friends

Notices sorted by graduation date

Carrie Heilman of Charlottesville died Feb. 25, 2026. In 2003, she came to UVA as an associate professor of marketing, teaching brand management and strategic brand consulting. She was a beloved mentor and respected academic, earning a UVA All University Teaching Award in 2020. She was a member of the Raven Society and served as a faculty advisor for the university’s National Student Advertising Competition team, which won three national championships under her guidance. Beginning in 2018, she served as the faculty representative to Virginia Athletics. Survivors include her husband, Brad; four children, including Matthew Heilman (Com ’26) and Thomas Heilman (Col ’29); her parents; and two brothers.

Charles Ray Tolbert of Charlottesville died Dec. 4, 2025. A professor emeritus of astronomy at UVA, he specialized in optical and radio astronomy and spent 40 years teaching introductory courses. As director of the Office of Academic Space, he spearheaded conservation initiatives during the early 1990s energy crisis. A long-time member of the Physical Access Committee, he was committed to accessibility for all community members. For 10 years, he served proudly as grand marshal, leading Final Exercises. He was a member of the Raven Society, Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. He and his wife, Carla, were longtime members of the Colonnade Club, where he served multiple terms on the board and two years as president. His dedication to his community extended beyond UVA; he served on the Albemarle County School Board, the Piedmont Regional Education Program, and the Albemarle County Service Authority. Along with Carla, survivors include three daughters, including Michelle Tolbert (Col ’94, Educ ’00 CM); six grandchildren; two siblings, including Mary Ann Tolbert (Grad ’71); and many extended family members.