Class Notes
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1948
Kemper Goffigon III sends his greetings. He is now 95 years old. In between earning a B.A. from UVA in 1941 and returning for law school, he commanded three U.S. Navy ships during World War II. He was awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his service. Goffigon retired in 1986 as owner and CEO of the Goffigon Equipment Company, a farm equipment dealership near Cape Charles, VA.
Bob Nusbaum wrote to let us know of his upcoming plans. Instead of attending his 70th reunion at Harvard, he’s headed to St. Barts. “Linda and I enjoy the French cuisine and the opportunity to refresh our conversational French language skills.”
Frank Warren Swacker’s e-book, Murder Trilogy: Three Two-Act Plays, recently became available online from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The collection includes plays based on his courtroom dramas: “Boardroom Conspiracy,” “Who Murdered Mom,” and “Spreading Murder and Happiness.” (See In Print.)
1949
Former University of Virginia Board of Visitors member James S. Cremins died on March 10 at the age of 93. He retired in 1986 as assistant general counsel with CSX, a 38-year career that combined his love of trains and the law. He served on the board of the American Judicature Society, was a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and chaired committees of the Norfolk, Richmond, and American Bar Associations.
Cremins served as a communications officer in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He was active in the Richmond Council of the Navy League and was a judge advocate. A descendant of an officer in the Revolutionary War, he joined the Sons of the American Revolution and was president of the Richmond and Virginia chapters and a trustee of the National Society.
In 1985 he received the Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities for decades of volunteer service. He was a trustee of Commonwealth Catholic Charities and was deeply involved in volunteer work within the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and the Knights of Columbus. He served on the boards of the Maymont Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America’s Heart of Virginia Council.
Of Irish ancestry, Cremins was a charter member and president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Major James Dooley Division and served on the Greater Richmond St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. He was the parade’s grand marshall in 2000.
1951
Charles B. Reeves Jr. writes: “I continue to enjoy ‘riotous living,’ thanks to my ‘training’ at UVA Law School. And thanks always to God! Hoo-rah-ray! U-V-A!”
1956
Edward T. Caton died on November 18 at 86 years old. As an undergraduate at the School of Commerce ’51, he lived on the Lawn and was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma. He enrolled in the Law School and joined the International Legal Honor Society, Phi Delta Phi. Following graduation, he set up his practice in Virginia Beach. He renovated a beach cottage on Pacific Avenue in which he practiced law for more than 50 years.
Caton served in the U.S. Coast Guard and was active in the reserve for many years. As a member of the local city council he was involved in the merger of the City of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County, which became the City of Virginia Beach as it is known today. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1966 to 1968, in the Virginia Senate from 1968 to 1972, and on the local school board until the early 1980s. He was also a commissioner in the chancery for the Virginia Beach court system.
1957
John Corse and three friends are known as the “Fab Four” in the U.S. Masters swimming circuit. Last October they captured a lot of attention when they set world and USMS records in the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle relays and the 200-meter medley relay at the Annual Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic, in Orlando, Fla. Corse broke the U.S. Masters swimming record in his age group in the 50-meter breaststroke.
Corse and his friends, whose average age is over 90 years, meet three times a week to swim together. Their hard work, endurance, and good cheer earned them the Growing Bolder Inspiration Award at the Masters Classic. They were featured in an article in the January/February issue of Swimmer magazine entitled, “The Men Behind the Records.”
1958
George M. “Ted” Rogers passed away on March 31, and is survived by his wife, Patricia. Rogers was a resident of Gulf Stream, Fla., at the time of his passing.
1959
In October Robert G. Sullivan was honored, along with three of his contemporaries, as a recipient of the inaugural Ross M. Pyle Career Achievement Award in recognition of his expertise, integrity, and outstanding contributions to bankruptcy issues in the San Diego, Calif., area. He was unable to attend the event, and his three children accepted the award on his behalf.