In Memoriam: 1970s
Notices sorted by graduation date
Douglas G. Reid (Col ’70) of Charlottesville died April 29, 2021. He grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and as a teenager spent two years in Okinawa, Japan. He was an Echols Scholar at UVA and a proud Wahoo. Education was Mr. Reid’s life work and passion, and he was a teacher for 46 years. He was named the “heart and soul” of Meriwether Lewis Elementary School, where he taught fifth-grade science and math for 31 years and led the after-school chess club. After retirement, he continued teaching and substitute teaching in the Albemarle County Schools until 2019. He particularly enjoyed substituting in ESL classes, where he learned about different world cultures and languages. Mr. Reid had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and everyone he knew described him as brilliant. He enjoyed reading; playing chess; and watching UVA sports, college basketball and baseball, especially the Nationals. He loved doing crossword puzzles, going to Fridays After 5 and spending time with his grandson, Charlie. Survivors include his wife, Sandra; three children; four grandchildren; and his sister.
Richard J. Joachim, D.D.S. (Col ’73) of Blue Ridge, Virginia, died June 24, 2021. A physics major at UVA, he earned his doctor of dental surgery at the Medical College of Virginia and served in the U.S. Navy, providing dental services aboard the aircraft carrier USS America before establishing his dental practice in Roanoke in 1980. Known by his patients for his positivity, practicality and kindness, he was a caring member of the Roanoke community and generous in his support of charitable causes, most notably as director of dental services at the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke. An accomplished tennis player, he was honored as the first recipient of the Richard “Rich” Joachim, D.D.S. Sportsmanship Award by the Roanoke Regional Tennis Hall of Fame. Survivors include his wife, Beverly Williams Joachim (Nurs ’01); and three children, Christopher Joachim (Col ’12), Andrew and Bradley.
G. Clarke Mullins (Col ’73) of Riviera Beach, Florida, died Aug. 14, 2021. At UVA, he was a member of the football team. He was president of L.D. Mullins Lumber Co. in Riviera Beach, where he worked with his father, Moon; and brother, Larry. He and his wife of 38 years, Pate’, enjoyed travel and adventure, mostly off the beaten path. A legendary perfectionist, Mr. Mullins could often be found working on motorcycles and classic cars. He became a pilot in 2008 and enjoyed flying his Piper Comanche N5617P all over Florida. He always said, “Have a nice ride,” and he most certainly did. Survivors include his wife, his daughter and three grandchildren.
Richard Joseph “Joe” Busch (Col ’75 CM) of Louisa County, Virginia, died May 20, 2021. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he earned an MBA from Mary Washington University and a master’s in accounting from George Mason University. He loved his family deeply. His love for all things UVA was rooted in his childhood in Charlottesville, grew during his undergraduate years as a Wahoo, and blossomed for the balance of his life. Survivors include his wife, Lisa; his stepson; four siblings, including Stephen D. Busch (Col ’77 CM); stepsister Kim Leslie Hale (Col ’80); and brother-in-law Michael R. Sullivan (Col ’72, Darden ’78 CM).
R. Steven Nichols (Educ ’77, ’93 CM) of Charlottesville died May 8, 2021. An adjunct faculty member of UVA’s School of Education, he was a longtime and beloved principal at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, Virginia, and superintendent of schools in Amherst County, Virginia; Staunton City, Virginia; and Jefferson County, West Virginia. He worked in several other school departments in Virginia, including Manassas Park City, Culpeper County, Manassas City and Alexandria City. He was a visiting scholar at Oxford University and received the Curry School Superintendent of the Year Award in 2010. He also received the Phi Delta Kappa Leadership Award. His passion for teaching was matched only by his love for UVA. The number of students he helped and mentored is immeasurable.