CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia
James Garrison Hagan
James Garrison Hagan, 72, died at home, surrounded by family, on Saturday, Septem-ber 13, 2008.
Thirteen months ago, Jim was diagnosed with Acute Lympho-blastic Leukemia. Friends wishing to gain insight into those thirteen months may visit his unfinished personal blog at http://www.tinyboat.org.
Jim was a Professor at the McIntyre Department of Art at the University of Virginia. Some of his sculpture may be seen in the National Gallery in Washington D.C., the Prince-ton Art Museum, and many private collections. Originally hired in 1963 to teach sculp-ture, his expanding interest in electronic media led to his creation of a graphic arts program for UVA. He retired Professor Emeritus in 2001.
In addition to family and friends, boating, boat design, and building boats occupied Jim in his retirement years. He agreed with Kenneth Grahame who wrote, "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats."
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Erla; their three children, Mara, Adam, Sasha; and their respective partners, Charles Muldoon of Potomac, Maryland, Tara W. Hagan, mother of grandson Ellis, of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Graham Hart of London, England.
At Jim's request, no memorial service is planned. The family is confident however that his many friends and colleagues will reflect independently on his kindness, creativity, curio-sity and humor.
This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.
Erla: For so long I've been leaving messages/queries for you in C-ville, and now I know. I am so very very sorry that Jim lost his battle. (I hope his beloved boat is still there. )
My heart goes out to you all.
I do hope to see you next fall.
Tess Johnston
December 18, 2008 | Shanghai, China
One of my favorite instructors. He made a non-Arts major comfortable learning sculpture and exposed me to sculptures made in a wide variety of styles and media that has enriched my life since we met in the early 70's
October 23, 2008
Dear Mrs Hagan, Mara, Adam and Sasha -
I am so sorry for your loss. Mr Hagan was a true gentleman. We will miss him at the vet clinic.
Lara Carman West/ Piedmont Vet Service
Lara Carman- West
September 23, 2008 | Charlottesville, VA
Dear Erla, Mara, Adam, & Sasha-
So sorry to hear about your loss.
I know your husband & father will be greatly missed by many. You are in my thoughts & prayers.
Sandra (Perkins) Carpenter
(Roy the Vizsla's mom)
Sandra Carpenter
September 22, 2008 | Gordonsville, VA
Dear Hagans, Another larger than life gentleman has ridden into the sunset! Here's hoping and praying that he and Robert are enjoying a few martinis together as I write this. All my love to all of you, Amoret
Amoret Bruguiere
September 22, 2008 | Charlottesville, VA
This is devastatingly sad. Long ago, when you introduced me to the internet, Erla, I could not have imagined that today, I would be sending this message.
Willa Lawall
September 20, 2008 | Charlottesville, VA
Dearest Erla, Sasha, Adam and Mara,
It has been a long time since we have spoken, but I remember you and your family with much love. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Jim. He was an extraordinary man, whose love of life and beauty spilled over into the lives of those around him. We have been blessed on this earth to have had him.
His wonderful views of life has left a grand legacy for his family--his wife and his children.
May his memory always be a blessing for you.
Elly Tucker
September 19, 2008 | Charlottesville, VA
Dearest Erla, Adam and Mara,
It has been a long time since we have spoken, but I remember you and your family with much love. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Jim. He was an extraordinary man, whose love of life and beauty spilled over into the lives of those around him. We have been blessed on this earth to have had him.
His wonderful views of life has left a grand legacy for his family--his wife and his children.
May his memory always be a blessing for you.
Elly Tucker
September 19, 2008 | Charlottesville, VA
