"Emily Couric, 54, Virginia State Senator for the 25th District
since 1995 and a former school board chairman, died of pancreatic cancer
on Oct. 18 at home in Charlottesville.
A strong and effective advocate for public education and health care
issues, Couric's legislative accomplishments include bills establishing
the Advanced Mathematics
and Technology Diploma Seal for high school graduates, the Commonwealth
Neurotrauma Initiative to support research and rehabilitation for victims
of spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, and the nation's first state
law mandating health insurance
coverage for colorectal cancer screenings.
A leader in the Virginia Democratic Party, Couric explored
a race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor until she
was diagnosed
with cancer in July 2000. She had been regarded as the front-runner
for the party's nomination and a strong candidate for the general election.
After withdrawing from the race, and while undergoing treatment for her
disease, she was elected to serve as General Chair of the Democratic Party
of Virginia in December 2000.
Couric served on the Virginia Senate's Committees on Education and Health;
Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; and Rehabilitation and
Social Services. She also was appointed to the legislature's Commission
on the Future of Public Education, Commission on Access and Diversity in
Higher Education, and Early Childhood and Child Day Care Programs Commission.
During her tenure in the General Assembly, Couric served on the Southern
Regional Education Board and the Southern Legislative Conference Education
Committee, and numerous other policy committees.
Several organizations recognized Couric with awards for her work in the
legislature, including the Virginia
School Boards Association, Virginia Technology
Education Association, Northern Virginia
and Piedmont Virginia Technology Councils,
American College of Gastroenterology,
Virginia State Fraternal Order of Police,
Virginia Sheriffs' Association,
Planned
Parenthood of the Blue Ridge, Virginia Women's Forum, and Virginia
Press Women.
Prior to her election to the Senate, Couric served on the Charlottesville
School Board from 1985-1991, including one term as chairman. She was
a member of numerous community boards and organizations, among them the
Boys & Girls Club, Charlottesville
Area School Business Alliance, Jefferson
Area Board for Aging, Virginia
National Bank, Virginia
Festival of the Book, Heritage
Repertory Theatre, WVPT Public Television,
Camp
Holiday Trails, and Downtown Charlottesville Inc.
A writer and journalist by profession, Couric previously worked as an
author specializing in articles and books about the legal profession. She
received the first place prize for non-fiction from the National Association
of Press Women for her book, The Trial Lawyers: The Nation's Top Litigators
Tell How They Win.
Before moving to Charlottesville in 1981, Couric worked as a public information
officer and speechwriter for the federal government; as a reporter for a
weekly newspaper; as the editor of a lawyers' newsletter; and as a high
school biology teacher.
Couric was born in Atlanta, Ga. She moved to Virginia in 1951. A 1965
graduate of Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va., she received a Bachelor
of Arts from Smith College in 1969, graduating with honors, magna cum laude,
Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi.
Couric is survived by her husband of 20 years, George A. Beller, M.D.
of Charlottesville, Va.; son Ray Wadlow, M.D. and daughter-in-law Jessica,
of Philadelphia, Pa.; and son Jeff Wadlow of Los Angeles, Ca. She is also
survived by her parents, Elinor and John M. Couric of Arlington, Va.; her
siblings, Clara Couric Batchelor, John M. Couric, Jr., and Katie Couric;
step-children Michael Beller, Amy Beller, and Leslie Beller; seven nieces
and nephews, and two step-grandchildren.
The Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m on Monday, October 22nd
at St. Paul's Memorial Church, 1700 University Avenue in Charlottesville,
Virginia.
"The Rev. Wayne Arnason, former minister of Couric's Thomas Jefferson
Memorial Church, Unitarian Universalist, will officiate.
The Rev. David Poist, the rector of St. Paul's who will assist with the
service, said Couric 'was a very centered person who was able to work in
a very bipartisan way with people of very different backgrounds'" (Bob
Gibson, The Daily Progress, October 19, 2001). |
A large gathering is anticipated, so you might want to come early.
No photography will be allowed in the service. Interment will be private.
A reception will be held afterward at Carr's Hill. |
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made
to: Cancer Center
Patient Support Services, Box 800334, University of Virginia Health
System, Charlottesville, Va. 22908." (Mary Broz, Press Release,
Democratic Party of Virginia,
October 18, 2001). |
