DENNIS BELCHER

BELCHER Dennis Irl Belcher Of Richmond, VA, 65, passed away unexpectedly after a medical procedure on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital. A lawyer with McGuireWoods for 41 years, Dennis joined the firm on May 11, 1976, and became a partner in 1983. As a past president of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and former chairman of the American Bar Association's Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, Dennis was a nationally recognized authority on trusts and estates and wealth management issues. He was recognized numerous times with honors calling him a "Most Influential Lawyer" and "Trusts and Estates Trailblazer," and his leadership as co-head of the firm's Private Wealth Services Industry Team helped his group receive Chambers' highest national ranking for wealth management, with praise from clients noting he was "the sort of guy you want in the trenches with you." Media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal frequently turned to Dennis for his unsurpassed expertise, as did Congress. He testified before the Senate Finance Committee on estate tax reform and the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, and just last year before an IRS committee on estate tax regulations. Dennis gave generously of his time and expertise to numerous community organizations. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Bessemer Trust. He was instrumental in the founding of Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens where he was General Counsel. Dennis served as Trustee of the James Madison University Foundation and on the Board of Directors of the Commonwealth Club of Virginia. He served as a member of the Board of Governors for St. Christopher's School from 1993 to 2002, Chairman from 1999 to 2002 and as President of the St. Christopher's School Foundation from 1993 to 1996, Chairman from 1993 to 1996 and Counsel to the Foundation from 1996 to 2017. He also was very involved with the family trucking company, Good's Transfer, Inc. Dennis enjoyed spending time with his family, including the love of his life, his wife Vickie, together since their teenage years, their three children, and one grandson. He enjoyed playing rounds of golf at Kinloch Golf Club and spending time at his family farm, Brookdale Farm, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. While attending the University of Richmond School of Law, Dennis was a member of the McNeill Law Society. As an undergraduate, he was president of Omicron Delta Kappa at The College of William & Mary. He is survived by his wife, Vickie Belcher, of Richmond; a daughter, Sarah Belcher O'Keiff and husband, Conor, of Arlington, VA, and two sons, Matthew I. Belcher (Julie Hannah) of Wivenhoe, UK, and Benjamin S. Belcher (Erica Creasey) of Richmond; and a grandson, Conor O'Keiff, Jr.; and a sister, Sharon Belcher Sprinkel (Don Morris) of Harrisonburg, VA. He also is survived by three step-siblings, Joseph W. Good and wife, Joyce of Harrisonburg, Charlotte G. Clark and husband, Robert, of Harrisonburg, and Glen Good and wife, Joyce of Harrisonburg and is preceded in death by a stepbrother, Charles S. Good. He was predeceased by his parents, Ellen Huffman Belcher Good and his stepfather, Stanford Charles Good and father, Finley Duncan ("Red") Belcher. A celebration of life will be held tomorrow night from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA 23228. The memorial service will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1627 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220 with a reception to follow immediately at the Commonwealth Club of Virginia located at 401 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23220. In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the charity of your choice.In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the charity of your choice.