In Memoriam: 1950s
Notices sorted by graduation date
Charles “Charley” Mott (Col ’51 CM) of Charlottesville died Nov. 8, 2020. The Huntington, West Virginia, native won the 1942 National Marble Championship and was a four-sport athlete in high school. He went on to play football at UVA, where he was a member of the Z Society and Delta Kappa Epsilon. UVA’s “Spirit of the University Award” in his honor concludes, “Charley Mott, he never met a stranger.” He served as a second lieutenant in the Korean War and later, as a colonel, received the Legion of Merit from the secretary of the Army. He also served on President Ford’s Clemency Board. By natural instinct, Col. Mott was a team player. A repeat board member and founder, he led and also followed. He helped produce movies and served on countless committees. “How can I help?” was his watchword and “Hello, friend!” his greeting. His favorite poems were Kipling’s “If” and Malloch’s “Be the Best of Whatever You Are.” He adventured with a micro valise on “Space A” military flights, arriving in exotic destinations with sharp creases. Col. Mott must have been the world’s fastest two-finger typist. He modeled generosity and dignity, gardened, golfed, danced, sang, hunted duck and dove, went on safari in Africa and confided enthusiasm, faith and optimism. His curiosity extended beyond his predispositions and because of that, he never failed to grow in knowledge and in spirit. He was proud of his family, and they delighted in him. Survivors include his wife, Karin; children Colter Mott (Col ’77 CM), Marcie and Larkin; eight grandchildren, including Karin Slaughter Murchison (Col ’05 CM), D. French Slaughter IV (Col ’08 CM) and Cameron Boland (Col ’14); and two great-grandchildren.
Joseph Ramsey Martin Jr. (Col ’52, Grad ’58, ’67 CM) of Charlottesville died Dec. 4, 2020. At UVA, he was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He served in the U.S. Navy before earning his master’s degree in English and joining the faculty at Brooks School in Massachusetts. He later returned to UVA, where he worked as assistant dean of admissions, taught English and earned his doctorate in philosophy. After a year at Transylvania College, he began a long teaching career at Washington and Lee University. Mr. Martin found much delight in challenging young minds and in spending time off-campus with his graduate advisees, several of whom remained lifelong friends. Mr. Martin chaired the philosophy department from 1990 until he retired in 1996. In retirement, he devoted time to organizations including Planned Parenthood and the UVA Cancer Center. He served on the Piedmont Environmental Council and on the board of directors for the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy. Mr. Martin had a wonderful sense of humor and an exceptional interest in other people and their ideas. One of his greatest joys was aviation; he especially loved flying friends and family in his planes. He enjoyed many adventures with his first wife and the mother of his two children, Barbara, who predeceased him in 1992. Mr. Martin married his second wife, Joan, in 1993, and together they traveled, attended lectures and symphonies, and enjoyed spending time with family. Survivors include his wife, Joan; and children, Mary Case “Cary” Martin and Joseph Ramsey “Jody” Martin III.
John M. “Jack” O’Mara (Law ’53) of Greenwich, Connecticut, died Nov. 26, 2020. A proud alumnus of the Hill School and Princeton University, he served in Allied-occupied Germany from 1946 to 1947 before later earning his law degree from UVA. Mr. O’Mara was a partner at Waite, Schindel, Bayless & Schneider in Cincinnati before moving to New York City, where he became a partner at W.E. Hutton & Co. He subsequently worked for White Weld & Co., which then merged with Merrill Lynch. He was chairman and CEO of Global Natural Resources and, in his final years, worked with Citibank Venture Capital. He served on the board of Fannie Mae from 1970 to 1991, chairing the asset and liabilities policy committee, and also served many decades on the boards of the Midland Co., Baldwin and Lyons, Global Natural Resources and OnTrac. Beloved by his many friends and gregarious by nature, Mr. O’Mara was an adventurous traveler into his 90s. He and his wife traveled together with all their children and grandchildren to a different country every year. He was an avid reader of history, and he skied until he was 82. Survivors include his wife, Margot; daughters Margot, Meica and Dede; and three grandchildren.
Henry Mitchell Dunn Jr. (Col ’54) of Savannah, Georgia, died Sept. 6, 2020. He served in the U.S. Army. After earning his law degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s in taxation from New York University, he joined Connerat, Dunn & Hunter, now Hunter Maclean, where his father had been a founding partner. Mr. Dunn forged his own path as a leading partner there for nearly 60 years. He was a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, a member of the American Bar Foundation, and a founding trustee and later president of the Southern Federal Tax Institute. He served as president of the Georgia Academy of Healthcare Attorneys. Mr. Dunn long held a deep-seated commitment to his community and exercised his keen intellect on many projects both legal and philanthropic. He was a loyal friend, a generous mentor, a trusted adviser and a respected colleague. Never the loudest voice in the room, he sat back and listened. When everyone had expressed their views, often to his consternation, he would quietly come forward with exactly the right course of action. His clarity of thinking and sound judgment shaped the lives of many. Mr. Dunn was passionate about golf, real estate, history and country music. His favorite place was the top of Snowbird Mountain in North Carolina, where he often went to read, hike and run his beloved dog. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; and children Elizabeth Dunn (Col ’91) and Eleanor.
Kemal Hamdi Elbirlik (Res ’54) of Istanbul, Turkey, died Sept. 19, 2020, He earned his medical degree from Istanbul University in 1946 and completed his residency in neurology and psychiatry at UVA. He established a successful private practice in Istanbul and was head of psychiatry at the French La Paix Hospital. In 1972, he and his family returned to Charlottesville, where he continued practicing and teaching at UVA until his retirement in 1992. Survivors include his wife, Meral; children Mehmet Elbirlik (Arch ’85) and Eda Elbirlik (Col ’87); and three grandchildren.
Edward “Ed” C. Haggerty (Col ’54) of Darien, Connecticut, died Oct. 26, 2020. At UVA, where he studied in the Woodrow Wilson School of Foreign Affairs, he was a member of the football team and Delta Upsilon. He did graduate work at New York University before serving as company commander in Korea with the U.S. Army. Mr. Haggerty began a 45-year career in public relations with 18 years as director of advertising and PR at W.R. Grace & Co. He then worked as head of PR and spokesperson for St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village before becoming head of U.S. operations for the Swiss-based communications firm Sydney Morrell & Co., where his clients included the Australian State of Victoria. In 1982, he established Edward C. Haggerty & Associates, which represented paper, financial, insurance and chemical businesses for 23 years. He lived in Summit and Sea Girt, New Jersey, for 33 years, raising a family of five with his wife, Marti. Active in the Summit community as press director for several mayoral and city council elections, Mr. Haggerty served on the boards of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Family Services Inc. and the Summit Minibus Development Committee. He also served as president of the Chemical Industry Association of New York and was a member of various corporate advisory boards. Upon retirement, he and Marti moved to Vermont. Mr. Haggerty was a faithful fan of Virginia athletics and joyously watched the Cavaliers win the 2019 NCAA Championship with two of his daughters. Survivors include children Richard, Gwenne, Elizabeth, Moira and Carol Haggerty Reardon (Col ’84); and eight grandchildren, including Meg Dawson (Col ’13).
Alfred Buckner Pittman IV (Col ’57 CM) of St. Augustine, Florida, died Dec. 19, 2020. At UVA, he ran cross-country and boxed, earning an undefeated record his fourth year. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. After graduation, Mr. Pittman enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves Medical Corps, where he served for six years. He worked for Harry L. Laws & Co., a sugar cane interest, in New Orleans and Port Allen, Louisiana. He also worked in sales for Hanes Hosiery and for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce before working in agriculture and in commercial real estate. He retired in St. Augustine to be near family. Mr. Pittman was and a tireless volunteer for the St. Johns County Republican Party, where he served on the executive committee and was a Century Club member. Mr. Pittman was an avid golfer and loved the outdoors, a good fire, and a good drink, but people were his real passion. He never missed a chance to talk to anyone wherever or whenever the opportunity afforded, and he developed close relationships wherever life took him. Survivors include his children, Alfred V and Holly; five grandchildren; and his sister.