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In Memoriam | Fall 2026

In Memoriam: 1950s

Notices sorted by graduation date

John Edward Clarkson (Col ’53, Law ’58 CM) of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, died Oct. 5, 2025. At UVA, he was president of DKE fraternity and participated in varsity football, wrestling and track. He also was a member of T.I.L.K.A., the Z Society, the 13 Society and the Raven Society. In 1953, he joined the U.S. Army and served two years at Fort Eustis, Virginia, and at Pusan East Air Base in Busan, Korea, retiring as a first lieutenant. After earning his law degree, he joined Willcox Savage in Norfolk, Virginia, where he became a partner. In 1983, he was appointed to the Circuit Court of Norfolk, serving with distinction until his retirement in 1997. He was its chief judge from 1987 to 1989. He served as the president of the UVA Alumni Association Board of Managers in 1976 and 1977. Survivors include his wife, Kirkland; two children; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Siegfried Brockmann (Col ’54 CM) of Berkeley, California, died Dec. 27, 2025. Born in East Germany, he was adopted by American journalist Walter Brockmann, allowing him to escape in 1948 and receive U.S. citizenship. He studied chemistry at the University of Virginia from 1950 to 1954. He was a member of the Virginia Glee Club. After graduation, he received a teaching fellowship at Harvard. In 1956, he was offered a job at Cole Chemical Co. in St. Louis, where he rose to vice president. He retired in 1990. He then moved to a house in the Berkeley Hills designed by famed architect Bernard Maybeck, where he enjoyed his view of San Francisco Bay. Survivors include two nephews.

W. Gerald “Jerry” Hamm (Engr ’54 CM) of Irvington, Virginia, died April 28, 2026. At UVA, he was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity. He worked as an engineer for the Douglas Aircraft Co. on various aircraft programs and guided missile programs. He then worked for Atlantic Research Corp. in Virginia, initially as a project engineer on solid-propellant rocket motor programs. He was the co-holder of a patent concerning a unique solid rocket motor design. Over the course of his career at Atlantic Research, he advanced to director of the production division, corporate executive vice president, CEO and member of the board of directors. He served on the boards of the National Capital Area Council of Scouting America, the UVA Engineering Foundation, the Virginia Manufacturers Association and the Professional Services Council. Survivors include four sons, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and several stepgrandchildren.

Edwin James Harvie Jr. (Col ’54, Med ’58 CM) of Danville, Virginia, died Feb. 27, 2026. At UVA, he was a member of the Cavalier Daily, the Jefferson Society and Kappa Alpha fraternity. After receiving his medical degree, he served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in South Korea and Fort Myer, Virginia. In 1964, he opened one of the first internal medicine practices in Danville. He was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, receiving its laureate award in 1995, and held many leadership roles in the Medical Society of Virginia. He also served on the board of directors of the UVA Medical Alumni Association. He volunteered at the Free Clinic of Danville from 1993 to 2015 and served as its medical director for over a decade. In 2012, the Virginia Health Care Foundation named him an “Unsung Hero.” Survivors include two children and their spouses, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Al P. Saufley (Col ’54 CM) of McGaheysville, Virginia, died March 6, 2026. At UVA, he was a Dean’s List student, member of Delta Upsilon, member of Skull and Keys, and player on the UVA football team. He served in the U.S. Army in West Germany. After his discharge in 1956, he joined General Electric in Waynesboro, Virginia. His career led him to the international division of General Electric in New York, and he spent 14 years living overseas on assignments in four major European capitals. He was the seventh-generation owner of Long Meadow Farm in Rockingham County, Virginia, which has been in the family since 1779. He frequently volunteered in his community, serving as treasurer of several civic organizations, including his local Ruritan Club and a cemetery association. He was predeceased by his daughter, Kimberlie Saufley (Col ’83). Survivors include his wife, Phyllis; two children; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

John Lionel Ruseau (Arch ’56 CM) of Charlottesville died March 8, 2026. A few years after graduating from UVA’s School of Architecture, he joined its faculty, teaching graphic design and watercolor for 32 years. He spent his summers sailing and painting watercolors along the Atlantic Coast. After retiring at age 65, he traveled to Europe to paint landscapes. Back in the U.S., he sailed the Eastern Shore with his family. Loved ones remember him for his dry sense of humor. Survivors include his wife, Sandy; four daughters; three sons-in-law; a granddaughter; and two grandsons.

David French Apple Jr. (Col ’58 CM) of Atlanta died March 23, 2026. At UVA, he served as president of the College, chair of the Honor Committee, associate editor of the Cavalier Daily and president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was a member of ODK, the Raven Society, the Z Society, the 13 Society, T.I.L.K.A. and the Jefferson Society. A distinguished orthopedic surgeon, his career spanned private practice, professional athletics and rehabilitative medicine, and included 30 years as team physician for the Atlanta Hawks. He co-founded and served as medical director for the Shepherd Center, a leading hospital for spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation. Survivors include his wife, Jane; four children, including Karen Apple Mathews (Col ’87, Educ ’93 CM), David F. Apple III (Com ’90) and Megan Apple Stephenson (Com ’97 CM); 12 grandchildren, including George W. Mathews IV (Col ’24), Sydney Apple (Com ’28) and May S. Stephenson (Col ’29); and a great-grandchild.

Kenneth D. Tuck (Med ’58 CM) of Roanoke, Virginia, died March 31, 2026. After graduating from medical school at UVA, he trained at the Cleveland Clinic, the Public Health Service Hospital in San Francisco and the Mayo Clinic. He then practiced medicine at the Navajo Nation in Arizona before returning to Roanoke. He served as president of the Virginia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, the Medical Society of Virginia, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. As a Rotarian, he spearheaded programs to mentor and train doctors worldwide to aid his lifelong effort of eradicating preventable blindness. He was a volunteer at the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke. He was awarded Rotary International’s highest individual honor, the Service Above Self Award, in 2017. Survivors include his wife, Sara H. Tuck (Nurs ’57); three daughters, including Kathryn Tuck Coats (Educ ’02) and Caroline Tuck Nold (Col ’89 CM); two sons-in-law, including William Nold (Col ’96); 11 grandchildren and their spouses, including Ross Hanchett (Med ’07); and five great-grandchildren.