Category: 1967

Kemmer Anderson, McCallie’s unofficial poet laureate, who taught and inspired thousands of boys over his 42-year career on the McCallie faculty, died unexpectedly on Friday, March 3, 2023.

“Yogi,” as he was affectionately called by his students, retired in 2019 but remained active in school life, often attending campus events and visiting former students and faculty members. He was attending the funeral service of a former student, Brice Burbank ’87, when he collapsed. He died a few hours later at Erlanger Hospital.

“Kemmer was one of those legendary faculty members who touched the hearts and minds of thousands of McCallie students over his long career at McCallie,” said Head of School Lee Burns ’87. “His love – for his wife Martha, for his God, for poetry and literature (especially Milton), for academic curiosity, and especially his love for his students and his fellow faculty – was what made Kemmer special to all of us. We will always remember his booming voice, his bright eyes filled with passion and wonder, and his classroom wanderings, which somehow, amazingly, his students were able to follow and appreciate more than adults.”

His wife, Martha, served for many years on the faculty as a counselor and was editor of several of Kemmer’s volumes of poetry. The two traveled throughout the world, often with other McCallie faculty.

According to Martha, funeral services will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Chattanooga.  The funeral is set for Saturday, March 25^th at 11:00 (10:00 visitation with a reception following the service).  St. Paul’s is located at 305 W. 7^th Street in downtown Chattanooga, near several hotels.

A native of New York City, Kemmer was a graduate of Davidson College and Pembroke State University. He served as a lieutenant in Korea. He worked briefly as a brickmaker, a carpenter, and a news reporter before attending Union Theological School in New York, where he decided that his real calling was to teach. He was hired as an English teacher at McCallie in 1977.

At McCallie, he taught virtually all levels of English. He also served as a goalkeeper coach for the varsity soccer team, created and served as faculty advisor to the McCallie chapter of Amnesty International, and held many other formal and informal campus titles. He was the recipient of the Keo Kio Outstanding Teacher Award, as well as many faculty study/travel grants. As an expert on Milton, he traveled to many Milton conferences around the world, including the 400^th birthday conference of Milton in London in 2008. At one conference, he presented a paper on Milton’s influence on American Founding Father Thomas Jefferson.

With Martha’s assistance, Kemmer published numerous volumes of poetry and was eager to read his poems to anyone willing to listen. For close to two decades, he wrote a special Christmas poem that he distributed to fellow faculty members, alumni, and students of his poetry classes. His poetry has appeared in many national and international publications.

Dr. Charles Henry Robertson, Jr., “Chip,” of Richmond, Virginia, age 76, passed away on November 20, 2022, at home with his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Henry Robertson and Florence Richardson Robertson Givens; stepfather, J. Edwin Givens; two grandchildren, Lily and Caroline. Chip is survived by his wife, Michael Nexsen Robertson; three children, Brett Robertson (Heidi), Dr. Lang Liebman (Spencer) and Dr. Ryan Robertson (Kristin); six grandchildren, Kate, Emma, Jackson, Trey, Walter and Laurel; siblings, Sandra O’Neal, Donna McAnulty and Bruce Robertson.

Chip dedicated his life to Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care, first in an academic environment at Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. Later, he moved into private practice with Pulmonary Associates of Richmond. He finished out his career as the CMO for Intercede Health, where he recruited and trained Hospitalist groups for a number of hospitals across the country.

A memorial ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, November 28, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Ave., Richmond, Va. 23226. All are welcome and encouraged to a reception immediately following the service at The Country Club of Virginia, 6031 St. Andrews Ln., Richmond, Va. 23226.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Peter Paul Development Center, 1708 N. 22nd St., Richmond, Va. 23223; The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, Md. 21741; or the charity of your choice.

Perry McCallum Parrott, Jr (Peter), husband of Lynn Brownell Parrott, died peacefully at home on Hilton Head Island on Saturday, October 22, at age 76.

Peter was born November 16, 1945, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He is predeceased by his parents, Ardis Flick Parrott and Perry McCallum Parrott, Sr.

He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, attended The Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, then graduated from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Peter and Lynn were married in 1967, prior to his attending graduate school at Clemson University where he received a Master’s degree in Industrial Management.

After college, Peter joined his father’s textile dyeing and finishing company, Parrott and Ballentine. His career was interrupted by service to his country as a Lieutenant in the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal for his military service. He returned to Parrott and Ballentine, then joined the Sea Pines Company, first at Big Canoe near Atlanta. In 1973, Peter and Lynn, with their two young sons, moved to Hilton Head Island where he was one of the early real estate associates for Sea Pines Plantation. Following a successful tenure with Sea Pines, and as a development partner of Twin Oaks, Peter was hired by Trammell Crow Residential and became a partner, based in Tennessee. The family returned to Hilton Head Island and Peter founded the University Housing Group, which developed student housing in college locations throughout the southeast.

Peter always enjoyed the game of tennis and has played on the Davidson College team while there. He also loved fishing with his sons, boating, and golfing.

Wherever the family lived, Peter was deeply involved in community philanthropy. He served on the Board of Directors of the Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and was appointed to the South Carolina Board of Education, representing the Governor’s School. While a member of the South Carolina Yacht Club, Peter was awarded the prestigious Galbraith Humanitarian Award for his tireless work for Volunteers in Medicine. He orchestrated very successful fundraisers for VIM and served on its Board of Directors for many years. The Eckedahl-Parrott Award was established at VIM in honor of the two major supporters.

Peter is survived by Lynn, his loving wife of 56 years; his son Perry McCallum Parrott III, his wife Anna Willis Parrott and sons Andrew and Sheppard of Delray Beach, Florida; son Walker Brownell Parrott and his su amante Debs of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. He also is survived by a sister; Ardis Parrott Albany of Birmingham, Alabama; a brother, John Flick Parrott, and his wife Sally Fowler Parrott of Greenville, South Carolina. Peter was loved by his entire extended family.

A graveside service is planned for family and friends on Thursday, October 27, at 11 AM at Six Oaks Cemetery in Sea Pines, with a gathering to follow at noon at the Sea Pines Country Club to toast a life well lived.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Peter’s memory to Volunteers in Medicine, Post Office Box 23858, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925; Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, 15 University Street, Greenville, SC 29601; or Memory Matters, Post Office Box 22330, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925. Islandfuneralhome.com.

George E. Piper, psychiatrist, of Haddonfield, NJ, passed away unexpectedly on June 5, 2022, at the age of 77.

George is survived by his loving wife, Diane.  Dear father of Lauren (Michael) Koch of Haddonfield, NJ and loving grandfather of Katie and Michael George. Predeceased by his parents George and Betty (nee Ney) Piper.  Survived by his brother Shawn (Deborah) Piper of Marmora, NJ; sister, Holly Bell of Lewistown, PA; nephews Ryan, Brandon, and Derrick Piper, and Nathan Bell; and niece, Holly Campano.

Born in McVeytown, a small town in Central Pennsylvania, George attended Rothrock High School, where he garnered local fame as a member of the Eagles 1963 PIAA Class C State Basketball Championship team.  He graduated from Davidson College in 1967, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree, and received his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in 1971.

George was the second of two psychiatrists who founded the UMDNJ-SOM Department of Psychiatry (now Rowan University-SOM Department of Psychiatry) in 1983.  As Vice-Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, George assisted the Chairman in the development of the department’s patient services and teaching programs for medical students and residents.

In 1994, George became the Assistant Dean of Graduate Medical Education at UMDNJ-SOM, and then Associate Dean, where he was responsible for postgraduate physician trainees, residency and fellowship training programs, and affiliations with primary and secondary affiliated hospital systems.  He was also responsible for organizing the UMDNJ-SOM Graduate Medical Education training system in the first accredited UMDNJ-SOM Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institution (OPTI), which received national recognition and acclaim for being the model Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institution for the country.

In 2005, George retired from UMDNJ-SOM and entered the field of private practice in Cherry Hill, NJ, where he continued to practice until his recent passing.  He was the consummate professional, who was always available for his patients.  His empathy and kindness were evident in his patient care.

George was a man of integrity. He was empathic and kind to all, including his family, friends, patients, and strangers.  He treated everyone with love, respect, and dignity.

As per his wishes, George will be returned to Jack’s Mountain close to his childhood home in McVeytown, PA, where his remains will be scattered.  Funeral services will be private.

For those who desire, contributions in George’s memory may be made to the McVeytown Presbyterian Church, 5 N. Queen Street, P.O. Box 323, McVeytown, PA  17051