WILLIAM HANCOCK

HANCOCK, Dr. William Cary, 89, of Richmond, Va., died May 22, 2010. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Doris Glenn Hancock; a daughter, Cary Hancock Easterly; two sons, William Glenn Hancock and John Beverly Hancock II; a sister- in-law, Patsy Glenn Rhodes; a niece, Conway Flournoy Hancock; a nephew, William Rogers Moseley; a son-in-law, Frank Blanton Easterly; two daughters-in- law, Christie Colby Hancock and Austin Cary Hancock; nine grandchildren, William Claiborne Hancock, James Cole Hancock, Caroline Carter Hancock, Robert Augustine Cary Hancock, Charles Fairfax Cary Hancock, Doris Glenn Richards, Emily Cole Easterly, Harry Watkey Easterly II, and Callie Jeanette Hancock; and two great-grandchildren, Scarlett Gregory Richards and Riley Glenn Richards. He was preceded in death by his brothers, John Beverly Hancock Jr. and James Patteson Hancock; and his sister, Edith Hancock Moseley. Dr. Hancock was born in Richmond, Va., to Edith Dennis Hancock and John Beverly Hancock. He graduated from St. Christopher's School and Tulane University and earned his M.D. from The Medical College of Virginia. While at St. Christopher's he started, captained and played number one singles for the State High School Champion Tennis Team. He also played for the legendary coach, Benny Paret, at Tulane. Dr. Hancock and his friend, local tennis legend Bobby Leitch, played on a tennis court they built together. Dr. Hancock was his family's sole surviving son in WWII, having lost his brother, Jim, in the Pacific. He served as a Commander in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. With Doris, his beloved wife of 65 years, they raised, trained and showed championship collies, hunter jumpers and thoroughbred race horses. Their collies, April Hill's Ringleader and April Hill's Miss Venture, won at Madison Square Garden. Their Anglo-Arab horse, Antar, was Reserve National Champion at the National Arabian Horse Show. Their thoroughbreds won over 100 races at tracks like Pimlico, Laurel, Penn National, Delaware Park and Charles Town. Dr. Hancock was an early Director of the Virginia Thoroughbred Racing Association. Dr. Hancock was an avid golfer, winning both the CCV and Palm Beach Polo Two Ball Championships, scoring seven holes in one and shooting his age several times. Dr. Hancock also played violin and clarinet. Dr. Hancock was a prominent family physician, beloved by his patients. After 40 years of private practice in south Richmond, he served as Medical Director for Home Beneficial Life Insurance Company until it was sold in 1995. He had also served as the Team Doctor for The Richmond Braves and Channel 12. A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at Hollywood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Christopher's School, 711 St. Christopher's Rd., Richmond, Va. 23226.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.