Obituaries

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: July 28, 2008

Joseph V. Gartlan Jr.

Joseph V. Gartlan Jr., an attorney and an unabashed liberal in a conservative Virginia Senate for 28 years, died July 18 from sepsis at a Fairfax hospital. He was 82.

“He was a tireless and effective advocate for the environment, the mentally and physically disabled, and for abused and neglected children,” Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said in a statement. The governor ordered state flags flown at half staff in Mr. Gartlan’s honor.

Mr. Gartlan was elected to the Senate from Fairfax in 1972 and served as chairman of three committees – Courts of Justice, Privileges and Elections, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. He also served on the Finance and Rules committees.

When he retired in 2002, he was co-chairman of the Northern Virginia delegation and was second in seniority in the Senate.

He was born in Great Neck, N.Y., and served in the Navy during World War II before earning undergraduate and law degrees from Georgetown University. He was a lawyer in the Washington firm of Melrod, Redman & Gartlan from the mid-1950s until 1986, when he retired to spend more time on his legislative work.

Mr. Gartlan is survived by his wife of 58 years, Fredona, six children and seven grandchildren.

Otis W. Nuckols

Otis Willis Nuckols, a retired attorney and insurance executive, died July 21 at his Richmond home. He was 87.

After serving in the Army in World War II, Mr. Nuckols graduated from the University of Richmond law school and began working for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Companies in 1951.

He retired from the company as executive vice president in 1986 and formed what is now Sinnott, Nuckols & Logan with his son-in-law, Raymond Sinnott III. The firm has a civil-litigation practice that focuses on insurance-related matters. Mr. Nuckols retired from the firm earlier this year.

Survivors include, his wife, Dorothy, a son, two daughters, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Comments

Vernida Chaney says:

Mr. Nuckols was a man I truly respected and will miss dearly. Otis, as he often referred to himself in the third person, was my business law professor in my MBA program. He encouraged me to go law school and wrote letters of recommendation on my behalf. But importantly, he taught me that human dignity and compassion are necessary elements in the law. Otis was my teacher, mentor, and friend. I’m thankful I had an opportunity to know this man named Otis because there will never be another like him.

Posted on 03/15/09 at 5:45 pm

Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Obituaries

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