TJ Class of 1965
- Richmond, Virginia -
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Click here for the Tee Jay Vikings Fund website
The Tee Jay Vikings Fund is a charitable, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization EIN#(45-5164961) that focuses on philanthropic/financial support and interest in Thomas Jefferson High School scholastics, athletics, music, arts and science.
Updated Nov. 2022
and stories from classmates who served our Country
(Click on the link above)
Click on the link above to view "old" classmate news.
2023 was a banner year for the TJ football team which finished its regular season undefeated, but there was much more to share with you about the school and the Tee Jay Vikings Fund.
• We kicked off the year purchasing a new batting cage net for the baseball team which was installed in January for winter practice.
• We continued our support of TJ librarian Patty Weir’s Library Reading Program by providing Amazon Gift Cards for the monthly winners for most read fiction and non-fiction books and the yearly winners as well.
• Our students needed meals when participating in school sports, especially at away games, so we provided nearly 800 meals from Mr. Submarine.
• Did you know that TJ students have a garden at the field in front of the school? The TJVF provided soil for their garden so students could learn and practice horticultural skills .
• For over five years we have awarded two scholarships to seniors to further their education. This past year’s winners of the $1500 scholarships are studying at ODU.
• In August and April, we celebrated our teachers and staff with box lunches from Padow’s (owned by a TJ alum) and whiteboard supplies.
• This Fall, we installed new whiteboards for a classroom and purchased books for a history class to go beyond required curriculum.
• We just finished repairing the dugout benches and backstop for the baseball field.
• We created and funded the Benevolent Fund to support students during times of immediate need.
We are so grateful to our loyal and new supporters. All of this was possible due to your generosity. THANK YOU!
As 2023 comes to an end, we hope you will continue your support of TJ students, faculty, and staff. We look forward to a great year in 2024 and wish you a happy and prosperous new year.
Your Tee Jay Vikings Fund
Please consider a contribution via our website ( https://teejayvikingsfund.org/donations/tjvf/
) or by mail to: “Tee Jay Vikings Fund” at PO Box 11451, Richmond, VA 23230. The Vikings Fund is a 501 (c)(3) eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Classmates, Lost but not forgotten - click here
Posted since our 40th reunion - click here
If provided, obituaries may be viewed by clicking on the above link.
Cynthia Ellen Garnett Garner
Cynthia Ellen Garnett Garner, 77, peacefully departed this world with her two children by her side on July 15, 2024. She was beloved by everyone fortunate enough to have known her gentle, caring soul. She was born to Anna Grace Caudle and Eubank Wilson Garnett on April 22, 1947, and she is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Thomas Lavinder Garner; two devoted children, Stephanie Sawtelle Garner and Thomas Gregory Garner; two wonderful grandchildren, Jacob Thomas Scott and Anna McKinley Scott; a sister, Barbara Garnett Aiken (Charles); sister-in-law Elizabeth M. Garnett; brothers-in-law John E. Garner and Dearing L. Garner (Bobbie); nine nieces and nephews.
Cindy retired from Wheat First Securities, after many years in banking and investments, and held numerous positions at St. Mark's Episcopal Church where she celebrated the milestones of her life.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 520 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd on July 27, 2024 at 11 a.m. Family burial will be held later in Hollywood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 4600 Cox Rd #130, Glen Allen, VA or St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 520 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA.
Published by Richmond Times-Dispatch on Jul. 21, 2024.
Courtenay Sommerville Welton, II
Lt. Col. (ret.) Courtenay Sommerville Welton, II passed away on June 18, 2024, surrounded by family in Richmond, Virginia.
Born in 1947 and then raised in The Fan, Courtenay was a quintessential son of Richmond. Courtenay then resided in northern Virginia, where he worked for the Department of Defense while also serving honorably in the U.S. Army Reserves as a distinguished public affairs officer and specialist. He returned to his beloved hometown after retirement.
A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), class of 1969, Courtenay cherished his alma mater, amassing a sizable collection of school-related memorabilia and article clippings over the years. He also valued his fellow “brother rats,” regularly meeting with other alumni in the Richmond area.
Outside his alumni circle, Courtenay was admired by his neighbors and often referred to as the unofficial “mayor” of the neighborhood. There was not a face he did not know, nor a canine companion that did not receive a treat upon encounter. He enjoyed walking his own beloved Norwich terrier, Clara, while surveying the neighborhood and talking to passersby.
Courtenay enjoyed travel and cooking, and he was never without a tale from his travels or an opportunity to share a recipe or dish with friends. He kept a chef's kitchen, and was never without an in-season Hanover tomato (pronounced “toMAHto”).
In addition to cooking, Courtenay was a skilled photographer, filling photographic libraries with color and culture.
To know Courtenay was to receive a clipped article from him. He read multiple newspapers daily, and maintained a vast library of articles and recipes of interest. He shared relevant articles via mail and doorstep to friends and family, when they were relevant to the recipient. Courtenay did not stop at consuming articles, however. He contributed countless letters to editors, as well as maintained two-way communication with printed journalists.
Courtenay is survived by his children, Courtenay Sommerville Welton, III (“Corey”), Kirsten (Welton) Shields, three grandchildren, Ayden Welton, Hailey Shields and Heidi Shields, and his sister, Lynn Welton.
To be published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Washington Post
Larry Bernstein
BERNSTEIN, Larry Michael, of Richmond, 76, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents Ben and Nora Bernstein. He is survived by his sister Gene Stahl (Frank) and brother Sandy Bernstein. He is also survived by his nieces Stefanie Walker (Rex) and Geri Adler (Andrew), his great niece and nephew Mollie and Liam Adler, and by many relatives and friends. Larry was a native Richmonder who graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1965. He completed his education at Richmond Professional Institute (VCU) in 1969 with degrees in education and business. After college, Larry joined Vista and spent two years in Wisconsin working with the Oneida Indians. After returning to Richmond he worked for Henrico County with the home bound school program. Most people will remember Larry from Disc Jockey Services. This was one of his true loves - music and making people happy for any occasion. His other love was Bernstein’s Remodeling which gave him the joy of making things and repairing anything someone needed. A celebration of life will take place on June 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Bliley’s Funeral Home, 3801 Augusta Ave. Please come with a story about Larry. If you are not able to attend in person, you can join virtually at
www.blileys.com.
Donations maybe made to Bon Secours Hospice, 2603 Nine Mile Road, Suite 220, Richmond, Va. 23223. The American Cancer Society, 4405 Cox Road, Suite 110, Glen Allen, Va. 23060, Attention Kathy Blencowe, or a charity of your choice.
Richard "Dick" Jenkins
Jenkins, "Dick" passed away on Friday, May 3, 2024.
A celebration of life will come later and there is no obit yet.
Howard "Buddy" Jones
JONES, "Buddy" Howard Cleveland III, of Midlothian, VA passed away suddenly on Friday, January 19, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, H.C. "Bud" Jones, Jr. and Addie Barnum Jones. He is survived by his loving wife, Rita Barrett Jones; son, Hunter Jones (Beth); daughter, Dana Randolph (Eric); beloved grandchildren, Sophie and Gretchen Jones and Ethan and Claire Randolph; and faithful pups, Brody and Layla.
The family will hold a visitation Thursday, February 8 at Salisbury Country Club from 3 to 6 p.m. A memorial service will be on Friday, February 9 at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity or to Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 2341 Winterfield Rd., Midlothian, VA 23113.
Published by Richmond Times-Dispatch on Feb. 4, 2024.
Marilyn Rose LIPSITZ Flax
FLAX, MARILYN ROSE LIPSITZ, 76, of Richmond, VA, passed away on January 17, 2024. She was born on November 8, 1947, to Estelle (Cohen) and Julian Lipsitz. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Marilyn was a devoted daughter, caring for her visually impaired father, assuring he remained active in mind, heart, and soul.
She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, in the top percentile of her class. Marilyn was offered a scholarship and obtained her degree in education from Westhampton College at the University of Richmond.
Marilyn is survived by her loving husband Bob Flax. They were married June 13, 1999, with her father Julian rolling down the aisle. At the end of a wonderful reception at Lakeside Park Club, Marilyn packed her father, and the wedding gifts, in her car and headed home! Bob learned on that day to move quickly or be left behind.
She retired after 32 years as a teacher for Richmond Public Schools. For over twenty years, Marilyn has been by Bob's side at his law office. She drove him to court appearances, giving him time to polish his arguments. She was also by Bob's side attending legal conferences across Virginia and the USA.
Marilyn loved life. She never knew a stranger! Bob and Marilyn annually attended The Chautauqua Institute in western New York. A kiss from Tommy Smothers, hugs from many performers, and deep friendships generated with fellow attendees from across the country was the norm.
Marilyn attended concerts, operas, theater, synagogue, and lectures. Bob's life was never boring!
Travel included visits to Russia, Sweden, Italy, France, and England. Marilyn always met people who ended up being long-distance friends for the rest of her life.
A funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at Temple Beth Ahabah, with burial following at Hebrew Cemetery. Friends are welcome to return to Bob and Marilyn's home after the cemetery service. Shiva will be observed with services on Sunday and Monday at their home at 5 pm. Bob will welcome visitors during the day Monday through Thursday. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond.
Dennis O'Toole - Teacher
1941 – 2023
"You should write your own obituary and then try to figure out how to live up to it."
- Warren Buffett
While we doubt Dennis knew that quote, he intuitively lived up to it. He lived a charmed life.
Born in Monessen, a small steel town in Western Pennsylvania, Dennis was raised by his mother and his grandmother who, along with his younger brother, Terry, encouraged him to do big things. A good athlete growing up, he lettered in both football, volleyball and baseball at Monessen High School where he eventually was named to the Monessen High School Sports Hall of Fame. In his senior year, Dennis was offered and accepted full football scholarship to the College of William and Mary.
While at William & Mary (1958-1961) after being red-shirted his freshman year, Dennis was a four-year starter at Defensive End and was named team captain in his senior year and was named to the Southern Conference All Academic Team. By far the biggest thing to happen for Dennis at William & Mary was in his senior year at a packed game against the University of Virginia at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Dennis intercepted a pass and ran it back 88 yards for a touchdown. A high school senior was in the stands that night, Deborah Shea (Debbie), and they were destined to meet the next fall at William and Mary. They were married the following year.
After college, Dennis and Debbie moved to nearby Richmond Virginia where he had accepted a job teaching Government and Economics at Thomas Jefferson High School (TJ). While at TJ, in addition to teaching, Dennis coached football, tennis and became the first coach of the newly created soccer team (the latter two he had never played before becoming a coach and bought books on each sport to understand the rules). The TJ Tennis team went on to win the State Championship during his time at TJ, and his exposure to tennis as a coach ignited his lifelong love of tennis, which he played competitively (some say obsessively) and watched nearly as competitively, attending, with Debbie, all four "Majors" (Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open and US Open) multiple times. He loved to watch and root for Rafael Nadal.
While at TJ, Dennis was working toward a master's degree in business from Richmond Professional Institute, now Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) . His Economics professor, R. Pierce Lumpkin offered him a position as an Economics instructor on the condition that he would obtain his Ph.D. During that time, he got to know the Dean of the Business School, Dr. J. Curtis Hall who became his mentor, a very important person in his life as well as a dear friend. That friendship lasted until Dr. Hall's death. Dr. Hall offered him a stipend to work toward his Ph.D. on the condition he agree to return to VCU to teach for 2 years upon completion of his degree.
He earned his Ph.D in Economic Education in 1970 from Ohio University and returned to Richmond and VCU, where he would remain for the rest of his 40+ year career as an academic and administrator, eventually retiring in in 2005 and then again in 2016. While Dennis served in several roles at VCU including Associate Dean for External Affairs, executive Director of the Virginia Council on Economic Education and Faculty Advisor to the Executive MBA . His love was teaching, and he would often say that he never worked a day in his life because he loved what he did. We should all be so lucky.
During his long career at VCU, Dennis was active with many areas of the university, but his great passion was for VCU Basketball, where he and Debbie were 40+ year season ticket holders and would often travel to out-of-town tournaments with the team. Dennis was a fan of all of the players, too many great ones to name, but if asked to pick a few of his very favorites Calvin Duncan, Ed Sherod, Eric Maynor, Kendrick Warren and Mo Ali Cox would be near the top.
After retiring from full time teaching, Dennis continued to teach economics at CIMBA, a consortium of American Business schools in northern Italy. While Dennis was busy teaching, Debbie was tour guide for their many visitors and fell in love with Venice, her favorite city. During their semesters in Italy, VCU made its magical run to the Final Four in 2010-2011 VCU Basketball season, and, despite frantic efforts to try to fly home for the games, they were forced to watch VCU's miraculous march to the NCAA Final Four at odd hours of the night on a spotty internet connection and a Slingbox DVR. Their children enjoyed using their parent's tickets to attend VCU's march from Dayton, Ohio, San Antonio and eventually, Houston for the Final Four.
Dennis is survived by his wife Deborah, his brother Terry, his four children, Timothy (58) and his wife Shana, Terrence (56) and his wife Jeannie, Patrick (54) and his wife Melissa and erin (45) and her husband Andy and their six grandchildren Hamilton, Madeleine, Kaleigh, Emily, Ciara and Katherine. Sisters-in law : Nancy O'Toole , Gail Shea, Dorothy Shea and Mira Shea and ten nieces and nephews.
A reception (Irish Wake) for family and friends of Dennis will be held at VCU's Siegel Center's on Sunday October 22nd from 2-5 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Deborah and Dennis O'Toole Scholarship for the VCU Tennis Program. (support.vcu.edu/give#home. Once on that page hit Search, Unit Category = "VCU Athletics" and under fund type "Dennis" and this fund will come up. Another great option that Dennis enthusiastically supported was the World Central Kitchen (donate.wck.org/team/531076).
Arlene White WANDERER Ott
AUGUST 15, 1947 – SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
Arlene was born August 15, 1947, in Richmond, VA, to parents Frederick and Ida Wanderer. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then moved to Colorado in her early twenties.
Colorado became home to Arlene who never left the area after settling in Boulder. She built a successful lifelong career in automotive sales, working for several dealerships. Most notably, Arlene enjoyed great success at Stammler Porsche Audi, where she was a top sales performer for Audi, nationwide, year after year.
Arlene had many interests including her great love for dogs, listening to live music at small intimate venues, and taking long drives through Colorado’s beautiful mountains. She was also a favorite resident in her neighborhood, to other daily walkers and their canine pals, as she always took a bag of dog treats on her daily walks, and generously handed treats to every dog she encountered along the way.
Arlene was beloved to her family and her friends. In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations in her memory, be made to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (bestfriends.org) to help dogs and cats. A memorial/ celebration of Arlene’s life will be held Saturday, October 14, from 2 to 4 pm at the Gate N’ Green clubhouse on 13405 Main St. in Broomfield, CO. Please contact her daughter, Isis Wanderer, for the code to enter through the community’s gated entrance.
For Older Obituaries, Click Here
For Older Obituaries, Click Here
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TJ Class of 1965 only
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201
7
We did it!...Again...
“Class of 65 turns 70” Event
(
August 23, 2017)Four Tops and Temptations
at Innsbrook After Hours
Music, friends, food, and more (6:00-10:00 PM)
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Click here or on the image below to be redirected to:
Innsbrook After Hours Home Page
2015
We did it!
Read and/or listen to Ned Hood's toast to the Class of 1965 - click here
***Class Photo by Classmate John Henley***
Click on picture "KEY" below to see names:
Click here for original reunion details
50th REUNION - JUNE 12 - 14, 2015
Original Invitation and RSVP - for PDF - Click here
201
2
“65 turns 65” Party
(Held June 30 and July 1, 2012)
Original Invitation <-- click here
Pictures from the party <--click here
(If you have more - send them to us)
2010
45th Reunion
(Held October 1st - 3rd, 2010)
Click here for Reunion details
Click here to see who attended
2007
“65 does 60” Birthday Party
(Held April 28, 2007)
Original Invitation <-- click here
Pictures from the party <--click here
(If you have more - send them to us)
2006
“SWEET MEMORIES” DISTRIBUTION PARTY- click here
(Held February 25, 2006)
2005
( Held October 28th, 29th, and 30th, 2005)
1985
REUNIONS
Thanks to our "historian" [Ned Hood] we have added many pictures from our 20th reunion (1985) and our 40th reunion (2005).
Check them out here:
(click on selection below)
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ARCHIVES
(Click the above link to view older articles not on Homepage)
Photos and Comments from Classmates - click here
(Last updated 07/14/2017)
TJ - Then and Now - click here
Memory Lane - Selected 1965 yearbook pictures - click here
"forty65" Archives - click here
Memorabilia Store - click here