Hartwell H. Gary III

Born November 16, 1937, in Norfolk, Hart lived much of his adult life in Charlottesville, near the heart of the University of Virginia. He earned a JD from UVA School of Law and an MBA from its Graduate School of Business Administration. He also studied at Princeton and Virginia Tech. He had a small private law practice in Charlottesville and ran a commercial real estate business, the Monticello Arcade, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in downtown Norfolk, with his brother Wiley Gary, and later with his sons, Hart IV and Fitz. He was a loving and devoted father and grandfather who shaped the lives of his close family whom he cared about so deeply.

Hart loved bicycling on many country roads outside of Charlottesville and beyond. He enjoyed reading history and literature, and started a book club 35 years ago which is remarkably still going strong. A foodie and cooking connoisseur, Hart loved traveling to Europe for both biking and the cuisine. He was also a lover of classical music and attended the Tuesday Evening Concert Series for many decades.

A lifelong dog lover, he was particularly close with a number of his canine friends: Joe, Dmitri, Max, and Mitya!

Hart was preceded in death by his brother, Wiley Grandy Gary, and is survived by his sons, Hartwell Henry Gary IV and Fitzhugh Bradford Gary; his brother, William Fitzhugh Randolph Gary; his daughter-in-law, Piper Rae Gary; and his grandchildren, Alden “Ash” Hartwell Gary and Alia Rae Gary.

The family will hold a private memorial gathering. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the National Audubon Society (ATTN: Office of Gift Planning, 225 Varick St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10014) in honor of Hart’s lifelong enjoyment of birdwatching.