Former UVa Dean, significant donor to the University’s LGBTQ communities, dies, aged 82

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I remember the guy, though it's been years since I'd seen him. I hadn't been aware of all the donations. He was a nice guy.

Former Dean dies, aged 82

Director of Newcomb Hall helped develop U.Va.’s student activities organizations, Cozart says

By Abby Meredith and Thomas Forman II on April 26, 2012

John Augustus Herring, III, former director of Newcomb Hall, assistant dean and significant donor to the University’s LGBTQ communities, passed away Friday at the age of 82.

Herring was a Virginia Military Institute graduate and U.S. Air Force veteran who moved to Charlottesville in 1958.

Bob Elkins, a 1979 College graduate and Serpentine Society Board of Directors member, said Herring "really gave birth to the queer movement at the University."

Elkins said Herring contributed significantly to the members of the University community affected by the AIDS epidemic of the 1970s and 1980s. At the time, many students who had AIDS were disowned by their parents, he said, and during the course of 15 years "John personally made over 20 trips to care for current and former University students dying of AIDS."

When Student Council withheld funding from the Gay Student Union in the 1970s because the University was not open to the union’s viewpoints, Herring permitted the group to hold biweekly dances in Newcomb Ballroom, which allowed members to fundraise, Elkins said.

Vice President for Development Wayne Cozart said Herring not only supported the fledgling LGBTQ communities, but also helped develop all aspects of student life.

Newcomb Hall is the student union building at UVa and thus, by extension, the student union itself.

There is more commentary at the Serpentine Society website.

Welcome to the Serpentine Society

The Serpentine Society reaches out to and advocates for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender U.Va. alumni and students by connecting alumni with each other and to the University.

https://hoosonline.virginia.edu/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ikITLcMTJtE&b=6243825&ct=11721547¬oc=1

John Augustus Herring

John Augustus Herring, III, was born March 29, 1930, in St. Petersburg, FL. He died on April 20, 2012, in Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Dr. John A. Herring, Jr. and Evelyn Dulin Herring (formerly of Lexington, KY).

John attended Florida Military Academy (now Stetson Hall University) in St. Petersburg. After graduation from FMA, he became a Cadet at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. It was noted in "The Bomb," the VMI yearbook, that one could hear Mr. Herring before one saw him because he was always whistling Beethoven or Bizet. Classical music and a love for the arts in general followed him the rest of his life.

After his commission, Herring served in the United States Air Force in Korea where he was a First Lieutenant and attaché in the 49th Bomber Squad. Upon completing military service, John received a Master of Arts in History at the University of Virginia and became a lecturer for the E. I. du Pont de Nemours Company.
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In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in his memory to the John Herring Scholarship for Social Awareness care of the University of Virginia Alumni Association.

I don't know a whole lot ... OK, anything ... about the Serpentine Society, but the scholarship seems like a worthy cause.

Thanks for all the help, Mr. Herring.