Because I live in the town where I went to college, I sometimes come across information that recalls my college days. Today’s Virginia Gazette contained an obituary that took me back to the 1960s as well as to the 1990s. Stewart Gamage was three years behind me in college, but I remember her because she joined my sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, when she was a freshman and I was a senior.
I also remember her from her time as Vice President for Public Affairs at William and Mary, a position she held in the 1990s. Reading her obituary today told me so much more about her. I feel privileged to have known her, even if I knew her only a little bit.
On a personal level, she was the mother of two, stepmother of four, and grandmother of four. She was active in her church in Richmond, serving on the vestry and “wherever she saw a need.
Professionally, she left her mark wherever she spent time. The obituary notes the following positions she held and the honors she earned.
Founder of S. Hamilton Consulting, which focused on women’s leadership, social justice, and racial reconciliation.
11 years as Program Director of Morven at the University of Virginia, which created a Women’s Leadership Forum and the Presidential Precinct, serving on the board and supporting initiatives focused on civic engagement, human rights, economic opportunity, and cultural heritage. (I had to look up “Morven at UVA” because I hadn’t heard of it before. You should check it out.)
15 years as Vice President for Public Affairs at William and Mary
Before working in higher education, she was Chief Operating officer of APCO Associates
Policy Director in the Office of House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt
Director of the Virginia Liaison Office and Senior Assistant to Governors Charles Robb and Gerald Baliles.
Associate Deputy of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Clinton White House
Appointed to the Commission for Presidential Scholars by President Clinton in 1999
Most recently, the founder of Light Up Ukraine, which raised significant funds to provide the soldiers and civilians of Ukraine with more than 2,000 solar lights and 26 refurbished ambulances.
Founding director of the Phoenix Project, an initiative to prepare Virginia’s next generation of leadership while building partnerships between higher education and distressed communities.
Board member of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership in Virginia
Board member for Women Executives in State Government.
Founding member of the board for the Pamela Harriman Foreign Service Fellowships.
The obituary notes that her family requests that donations in Stewart’s honor be directed to fellowship programs that have been created at William and Mary to advance global diplomacy and public service in Virginia.
The last line notes that “Stewart led a purposeful and selfless life – she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her and her impact in Virginia and around the world will be felt for decades to come.”
I think this is probably what we all aim for. Stewart achieved it.
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