In Memoriam: 1970s
Notices sorted by graduation date
Dr. Corbin George Eissler (Col ’71, Med ’75 CM) of Lorton, Virginia, died Dec. 27, 2020. As a UVA undergrad, he was features editor of the Cavalier Daily. While at UVA School of Medicine, he met his best friend and wife of 44 years, Sallie. A longtime physician, he worked his entire career at Kaiser Permanente, where he served as chief of family practice for Northern Virginia and was regularly recognized for his outstanding care of patients. He served on the board of directors for Capital Area Permanente and was a founder of Kaiser Urgent Care. He provided clinical education to numerous medical students and nurse practitioners, and he endeavored to make medicine and patient care a collaborative learning experience. A Type 1 diabetic, he far outlived and outpaced early expectations, and used his own battles with the disease to help others manage and live with it. For his work, he was recognized as one of the top 40 physicians in Virginia for diabetes care. Beyond his medical career, he was an avid supporter of UVA basketball and the Washington Nationals and loved being a grandfather. Survivors include his wife, daughter Sarah E. Rhodes (Arch ’08, ’09) and two grandchildren.
Donald M. Harrison (Grad ’72, ’77) of Oakton, Virginia, died May 25, 2020. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Services Corps, attaining the rank of captain. After working as an intelligence officer at the Central Intelligence Agency for two years, he spent the bulk of his career with the U.S. Agency for International Development, serving in Barbados, Grenada, Honduras and El Salvador, and in temporary assignments in Eastern Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa. The work was challenging, but he found helping to improve people’s lives and advancing development rewarding. A fitness enthusiast, he jogged daily wherever he was, and also enjoyed playing tennis and basketball. He was a die-hard fan of the Washington Senators, and then the Washington Nationals. He rarely missed a UVA football or basketball game, even if his only option was shortwave broadcasts over Armed Forces Radio. In retirement he enjoyed gardening and volunteering with his church and with the Virginia Adopt-a-Highway program. He is survived by his wife, Wesley March Harrison (Educ ’74); two children; and three siblings, including Marguerite Pickering (Nurs ’77 CM) and her husband Craig N. Pickering (Col ’70 CM).
John Robert “Jack” Bruggeman (Col ’75 CM) of Vienna, Virginia, died March 27, 2020. A native Washingtonian, he received a degree in history from UVA and earned an MBA at the College of William & Mary. He enjoyed a 38-year career in professional reference publishing specializing in health care, working for publishers such as Prentice Hall, Medical Economics, Little Brown & Co., and Aspen Publishers. He retired in 2016 from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists in Bethesda, Maryland, where he was director of special publishing. In retirement, he and his wife, Paula, started an independent antiquarian bookselling business, selling online and at book fairs up and down the East Coast. Outside his professional career, Mr. Bruggeman was a longtime advocate for citizens with intellectual and physical disabilities, serving on the boards of directors of three nonprofit organizations serving the disability community: Central Fairfax Services of Springfield, Virginia; Service Source in Oakton, Virginia; and Community Residences Inc. of Chantilly, Virginia. In 2016, he was appointed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to a four-year term on the Virginia State Board for Behavioral and Developmental Services. In 2020 when he resigned from the board because of illness, he received a special commendation from the board as well as from Gov. Ralph Northam, thanking him for his advocacy for improved mental health and disability services in Virginia. Mr. Bruggeman was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Kathryn. He is survived by his wife; daughters Emily and Karyn Bruggeman; a brother, Michael Bruggeman (Col ’71 CM); and a sister.
C. Allan Foster (Com ’75 CM) of Chesapeake, Virginia, died June 16, 2021. Born in Portsmouth, he was a lifelong resident of Norfolk and Chesapeake. He enjoyed a successful career in chemical sales before retiring as a sales manager for Olin Corp. He was an avid sports fan who held season tickets to UVA football and men’s basketball games for many years. Active in his church, he found great enjoyment in serving others there and in the community. He is survived by his son, Ryan Foster; Ryan’s mother, Sandra Brown; and brothers Steve Foster (Col ’75, Grad ’77 CM), David Foster (Com ’82 CM) and Richard Foster (Col ’78, Darden ’84 CM).
David Roger “Doc” Munsick Jr. (Grad ’75, ’97) of Shipman, Virginia, died Sept. 22, 2021. Over the course of his academic career, Mr. Munsick taught history at Randolph-Macon College, the University of Mary Washington, Davidson College, Northern Virginia Community College and Piedmont Community College. He was awarded the Elizabeth B. Garrett Scholarship in History by Washington and Lee University. In 1999, Mr. Munsick joined the faculty at The Covenant School and taught European history. During his tenure, he also served as the department chair of history. In the past 24 years, Roger became a well-loved figure serving as an interpreter at Ash Lawn-Highland, later James Monroe’s Highland, in Albemarle County. Mr. Munsick’s thorough knowledge of history, keen wit and abiding kindness were cherished by the Highland community. He was a beloved teacher, faithful friend, brilliant historian, knower of all sports information and witty conversationalist on any and every subject, and dedicated to his students, colleagues, friends and the study of history.
Dr. Liston McLeod “Mike” Rice III (Col ’76 CM) of Houston, died Nov. 18, 2021. Dr. Rice completed a degree at UVA and graduated medical school at University of Texas Southwestern, where he met his wife, Dr. Peggy Goetz, and was residency-trained in internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Rice’s medical career culminated with a return to Baylor as an attending emergency room physician at Ben Taub Hospital, where he was an award-winning teacher loved by nurses, physician assistants and doctors. Dr. Rice was a loyal, dedicated husband and father. He loved fly-fishing in New Mexico and trolling for kingfish in the Gulf; he hunted gamebirds across Texas and birded the jungles of Panama. Dr. Rice was always ready for a game of chess or a chat about politics while listening to old blues recordings. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son. Survivors include his wife; two sons; a grandson; two sisters, including Katie Rice Wray (Col ’82 CM) and her husband Logan Wray (Com ’81 CM); a brother; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jean Tanner Souter (Educ ’78 CM) of Tallahassee, Florida, died Oct. 23, 2021. She attended Whitworth University through spring of 1949, completing her bachelor of arts at Boston University and later going on to earn a master of science in library science at Columbia University and a master’s degree in education at UVA. Starting in the mid-’70s, Ms. Souter worked in academic libraries, ending her career as the director of reference and information services at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was predeceased by both her first husband, Thomas N. Thompson Jr., and second husband, Thomas A. Souter Jr. Survivors include her daughter and other family.
Gary Linn McDowell (Grad ’79) of Richmond, Virginia, died Aug. 6, 2021. Born in Flat River, Missouri, he worked his way up from humble beginnings to a distinguished career in academia and public service. After earning a bachelor’s degree at the University of South Florida and master’s degrees in political science from the University of Memphis and the University of Chicago, he earned a doctorate in government and public affairs from UVA in 1979. He served as chief speechwriter for Attorney General Edwin Meese during the Reagan administration and worked as director of the Institute of United States Studies at the University of London and as a member of the United States-United Kingdom Educational (Fulbright) Commission. A leading constitutional scholar, he wrote or edited 11 books and served on the faculties of Dickinson College, Tulane University, Harvard University and Harvard Law School. From 2003 until his retirement in 2018, he served on the faculty of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond. In 2020, the Jepson School established the Gary L. McDowell Institute, in recognition of his values and principles of free inquiry, thoughtful deliberation, and rigorous discussion of classical texts and issues in political economy. He was known for his loyalty, generosity and wicked sense of humor, and he loved martinis and music, especially old-time bluegrass. He is survived by his wife, Brenda, his sister, and several nieces and nephews.