Douglas Henry Ludeman

Ludeman Douglas Henry Ludeman of Delray Beach, Florida, passed away on September 17, 2013 surrounded by his family. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 61 years, the former Joanne Dancy of Upper Arlington, Ohio; his two sons, Dr. Douglas Henry, Jr. (Courtney) Ludeman of Richmond, Virginia and Daniel J. (Susan) Ludeman of St. Louis, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Kathryn G. (David) Shonka, Daniel J. Ludeman, Jr., Douglas H. Ludeman, III, Allison R. Ludeman, J. Samuel Ludeman, David M. Ludeman, Sarah F. Ludeman and Caroline I. Ludeman; and three great-grandchildren, Ainsley, David and Luke Shonka. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, including Douglas (Debbie) Houser of Upper Arlington, Ohio. Douglas Henry Ludeman was born on October 2, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the youngest of five children born to Henry and Florence Ludeman. In 1948, Doug graduated from Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn where he was President of his senior class. He graduated from Yale University in 1952 where he was manager of the Varsity basketball team and a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Following his graduation from Yale, Doug and Joanne were married on June 15 in Columbus, Ohio. Later that fall, Doug joined the Army and served in the Korean War until August, 1954. He was awarded the military's highest honor for valor, The Bronze Star, in recognition of his bravery during the Battle of Porkchop Hill. After serving his country, Doug and Joanne moved to southern Florida where he began his career in the financial services industry, working for First National Bank of Miami, Goodbody and Co. and Hayden Stone. Doug and Joanne were among a handful of individuals who founded Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale and it was here that they both accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior and led many others to the Lord. In 1965, they moved their family to Richmond, Virginia to begin working at State Planters Bank as a salesman in their Municipal Bond department. Doug quickly moved up the organization due to his impeccable character, sharp mind and strong work ethic. In 1978, he was named President and Chief Operating Officer of the new entity, United Virginia Bankshares, one of the largest banks in the Southeast. In addition, Doug served on several corporate boards including Media General, Chesapeake Corporation and The Lane Company. By order of the Governor, Doug was appointed Rector of Virginia Commonwealth University and served in this capacity until his retirement. He also served as President of the United Way campaign in Richmond and on the Board of Trustees of Mary Baldwin College, the Valentine Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Doug authored several books on investments and municipal finance. He accurately predicted the demise of New York city's credit rating in the 1970's. He advised many elected officials and business associates on financial matters during his career. Upon his retirement, Doug and Joanne divided their time between their homes in Irvington, Virginia and Delray Beach, Florida. They were members of The Country Club of Virginia, Rappahannock Yacht and Country Club, Indian Creek Country Club, The Country Club of Florida, The Ocean Club and The Little Club. Doug was a man of many interests and talents. He was an avid gardener and golfer. He enjoyed boating and fishing on the Chesapeake Bay, loved reading and architecture. Doug and Joanne enjoyed travelling the world and were deeply enriched by experiencing diverse people and cultures. They enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren. Doug will be remembered for his strong character, humility, keen intellect and gentle demeanor. Military services were held Saturday, September 21, 2013 at The Gardens in Boca Raton, Florida. Doug and Joanne became active in many philanthropic endeavors, with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital holding a very special place in their hearts. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for research of Retinoblastoma at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.