John Stricker Coles

John Stricker Coles

John Stricker Coles of Charlottesville died on Sunday, April 4, 2010, after a brief and intense battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born on December 3, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the late Frances Sadtler Coles and Walter L. Coles.

He is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Coles Umstattd of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ann Coles Cutshall of Houston, Texas; a brother, Robert T. Coles of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; two sons, John Striker Sanford IV and Herbert Lippincott Sanford of Norfolk, Virginia; four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

John also leaves behind his wife and companion for 31 years, Christine Solem, his beautiful vegetable garden, and all the goats at Satyrfield Farm in Albemarle County. Since 1983, he was a vendor at the Charlottesville City Market, providing citizens of our area with organic vegetables and fresh raw goats milk cheese. John believed that individuals had a fundamental right to purchase food for their own consumption direct from the farmer who produced it without governmental interference. As such, he lobbied tirelessly for his beliefs, at City Market, the Virginia General Assembly, and countless other venues. He was also a co-founder of the Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association.

A celebration of his life will be held 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at the Elks Lodge, 389 Elk Drive, Charlottesville, Route 20 North near Darden Towe Park. Feel free to bring a covered dish to share.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his memory to the Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association, P.O. Box 915, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.