In Memoriam: 1970s
Notices sorted by graduation date
Robert E. Schindler Sr. (Com ’70 CM) of Vienna, Virginia, died Feb. 23, 2021. He served for 30 years in the U.S. Army and earned the rank of sergeant major. He loved everything about the Army and was proud of his accomplishments. He then worked at C&P/AT&T for 20 years before founding a lawn care business. A history buff, Mr. Schindler was a member of the American Civil War Society of Great Britain, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the American Legion. A history buff, he was passionate about Civil War reenactments and appeared in the films Gettysburg and Lincoln. He and his partner, Nell Campbell, traveled the world and embraced every adventure. He was a member of the Lion’s Club, the American Civil War Society of Great Britain and the Alexandria Scottish Rite. Generous with his time, he volunteered with the Northern Virginia Blind Bowlers Association and was a transporter for the Shriners Hospital. He also had a great sense of humor, and of mischief. He was known for his contagious laugh, kind heart and dedication to others. Survivors include his partner; children Elizabeth, Helen, Robert and R. Andrew; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
James Powhatan “Jamie” Davis Jr. (Col ’72 CM) of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, died June 12, 2021. A native of Martinsville, Virginia, he lettered in football at UVA, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance, he worked for DuPont for more than 14 years. He then found his true passion for helping individuals and families gain financial literacy and stayed in the financial services industry for the rest of his life. A dedicated and loving family man, he also enjoyed traveling, cooking and sports. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hiking and running, having run the New York and D.C. marathons. A voracious reader, he was never without a book. He always told his children to “live, love, laugh and learn—every day!” Survivors include his wife, Joyce; children Tyler and Callie; eight grandchildren; and a sister.
James L. Spencer (Col ’74, Grad ’80 CM) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died April 18, 2021. He served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He and his first wife, Dona, raised their children in Toms River, New Jersey. Before retiring in 2018, he was a program development manager at the Software Engineering Institute in Arlington, Virginia. In 2020, he moved with his second wife, Teri, to Colorado, where he had intended to continue pursuing his interests, including genealogy and photography. The two of them planned to travel and enjoy the outdoors, two things they loved. Mr. Spencer was known for his warmth and selflessness, as well as his bravery and nobility while fighting cancer. Survivors include his wife; children Christina and David; and
eight grandchildren.
Margaret E. “Peggy” Walker (Educ ’75, ’03) of Ashburn, Virginia, died Dec. 22, 2019. She left behind a legacy of teaching those with various disabilities and learning problems. She always saw the best in a person, mostly in a child, especially one who had challenges. So many students and parents said she changed their lives. Survivors include sisters Terri Bonfils and Susan and Patricia Walker.
Marilyn Mattys (Grad ’78) of Mechanicsville, Virginia, died April 12, 2021. After earning her master’s in fine arts, she returned to UVA in 1984 to teach and direct in the Drama Department alongside her husband, Joe Mattys (Grad ’78). The two of them appeared in several Heritage Repertory Theatre productions in the summers. From 1990 until her retirement in 2014, she taught speech and theater courses at Randolph-Macon College. Survivors include her husband; a son and a daughter; a grandson; and a brother and sister.