Remembering Vienna's 'Unofficial Historian'

Army Veteran and CIA member Mayo Sturdevant Stuntz, 97, laid to rest Thursday after a lifetime preserving and celebrating Vienna's history.

As an Army veteran and former member of the Central Intelligence Agency, Mayo Stuntz had traveled the world — he spent three years across the Pacific Southwest, and later, served tours in Japan and Nicaragua. But it was Vienna, Va. that Stuntz loved to call home — a place, by many accounts, that will forever be marked by his contributions toward preserving and celebrating its past. Stuntz died last week of natural causes at age 97; he spent a lifetime as a resident of town. "I think most of us have at least heard of him if not known him or a member of the family personally," one resident remarked underneath his obituary. Stuntz was born in Vienna in 1915, attending Vienna Elementary School in the 1920s just after it burned down. The school…

• Photos (4)

Obituaries: Mayo Sturdevant Stuntz, Sr., 97

Vienna historian, WWII Veteran and lifelong resident died Thursday. Funeral arrangements planned for next week.

Lifelong Vienna resident Mayo Sturdevant Stuntz — the last original member of Fairfax County's History Commission and likely the town's most widely known historian — died Thursday. Born in Vienna, Va in 1915, Stuntz attended Vienna Elementary School in the 1920s. He went on through school in Vienna and attended Cornell University. He entered the U.S. Army during World War II and served in the Pacific (Lt. Col, Ret.), had a 25 year career in the Central Intelligence Agency and was a well-known local historian and co-author. Stuntz was the beloved husband of 66 years of Constance Pendleton Stuntz.  He was the father of Anne (Brad Swanson) — the president of Historic Vienna Inc. —, Reid (Linda), and Mayo Jr. (Elizabeth). Grandchildren include…

•  3 Comments
• Photos (3)

Obituaries: Erik Seewald, 13

Erik Seewald and Terry Barnum Light died last week.

A 13-year-old Vienna boy died last week after an illness. Erik G. Seewald died on April 26. According to an obituary published on Money and King’s Funeral Home website, Erik was a Colvin Run Elementary School student who loved baseball, guinea pigs and kittens. He was also a boy scout. Erik's Life Celebration is scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday  at Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Thomas a' Becket, 1421 Wiehle Ave., Reston. Mr. Terry Barnum Light, of Vienna, died at age 78. Mr. Light is remembered as a “great family man,” attorney, and veteran, according to his obituary posted on Money and King’s Funeral Home. Mr. Light’s funeral service will take…

• Photos (1)

Kilmer Mourns Loss of Student

Services planned Wednesday for Brendan Kelly, 15, who died this week after battling leukemia.

The Kilmer Middle School community is mourning the loss of a classmate and student who lost a years-long battle with leukemia this week. Brendan Kelly, 15, died last weekend after being ill for "some time," Principal Doug Tyson said in an email. Kelly battled leukemia on and off for most of his life, a battle chronicled by the Connection Newspapers three years ago, when the then-12-year-old completed his latest round of chemotherapy. For much of that time, Kelly, of Great Falls, called the Vienna Middle School home. Teachers and staff said "we at the school will miss Brendan very much."  Brendan's mother Maura said in a statement her son "was extremely happy at Kilmer and had a great time. Everyone welcomed him, took good care of him and …

• Photos (1)

Week in Review

Aug. 27-Sept. 2: Cottage Street Reconstruction Begins

Police chase crosses three major commuter roadways

Police chased a D.C. man through three major commuter roadways at the end of rush hour Wednesday. Charles R. Lawton, of Washington, D.C., ignored police signals to pull over for traffic violation and was arrested and charged with driving on a revoked licesnse, habitual offender, and failure to obey law enforcement officer's command to stop at the end of the chase. Crews began work Wednesday on a 0.3 mile stretch of Cottage Street, between Walker and Patrick streets, for new sidewalk, curb and gutter, entrances, drainage, utilities, sign replacement, asphalt pavement and pavement markings. The Virginia Department of Transportation is funding the $1.2 million project, which is scheduled for a July 2013 completion date. Church of the Good …

• Photos (1)

Cuppett Leaves Legacy of Dance, Generosity and Faith

Former Rockette, Cuppett Performing Arts Center founder Alzine Cuppett dies at 85

When Amy Cuppett Stiverson expressed her fears before teaching her first class at the Cuppett Performing Arts Center, her mother made a confession: She never wanted to be a dance teacher. Convinced she did not have the skills set necessary to mold young dancers, Alzine Cuppett, CPAC's founder and beloved teacher, at first avoided the career path. But soon after being pushed into it by a fervent nun at her children's school Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Cuppett could not imagine doing anything else. "We're both perfectionists, and I think both of us were worried we wouldn't do a well enough job," Stiverson said. "But I think when she got past that, working with the kids, the reward of it becomes almost an addiction and you …

• Photos (3)

Vienna Public Servant, Former Delegate Dies at 64

Dick Fisher served on Vienna Town Council in the late 1980s

Longtime Vienna public servant and former Del. Richard "Dick" Fisher died Monday at the age of 64. Fisher spent most of his adult life as a public servant in Vienna. From coaching youth football to serving on the town's Transportation Safety Commission, Planning Commission, Council and various committees throughout the county, Fisher stayed active in the community. "He was a fine gentleman," said Maud Robinson, a former council member. "He served the town well, honorably, on the Planning Commission and the Town Council. When he was a member of the Virginia legislature, he always looked out for the interests of Vienna in any legislation being considered. He really loved this town." Starting in 1990, the Republican delegate served four terms…

• Photos (1)

Longtime Vienna Business Owner Dies at 81

Ray Arndt of Ray's Auto Body Shop died Friday

A Vienna Little League sponsor since 1965, Ray's Auto Body Shop has its office filled with hundreds of young players in their ballcaps.  A banner from the 49-year-old business can be found on fields at Madison High School.  And a Ray's Auto Body tow truck can always be spotted in the Vienna Halloween Parade.  That's because Ray Arndt, the shop's owner, insisted on "giving back to where it came from," said the shop's general manager and Arndt's longtime friend Doug Wortman.  Arndt, 81, an Army veteran and son of the American Legion, died Friday at Mary Washington Hospital.  Linda Strike, Arndt's granddaughter, said her grandfather made sure the company's charitable donations went only to local organizations. "If he was going to give money, …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Week in Review

Aug. 20-26: Town Council Raises Height Limit

Woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in Merrifield

Vienna Town Council voted Monday night in favor of height adjustment that would allow municipal parking garages to stand at 50 feet rather than 35 feet. Cunningham Park Elementary School students who walk to school each day came one step closer to having a safer path Monday as the Vienna Town Council awarded a contract for a Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) sidewalk project along Harmony Drive and Lullaby Lane. Former Vienna Mayor Joe Spriggs died Aug. 15 at the age of 79. Ask the Town: Will sodium vapor lights be used in the town's streetlights? Fairfax County Police are looking for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman Aug. 19 in Merrifield. Vienna Police log: Two residents arrested for driving while intoxicated; Posh employee …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Former Vienna Mayor Dies at 79

Joe Spriggs remembered as problem-solver, honest

When former Councilman Dick Dingman visited Joe Spriggs in hospice care, he found the former Vienna mayor very aware, in good spirits — and a manager and problem-solver to the very end. "When his wife told him we found one of the elevators not working, he starts telling his wife 'We need to call so-and-so. This elevator needs to be fixed,'" said a laughing Dingman, who added Spriggs used to manage the building. "He was sitting there with an oxygen tank unable to to get up and still wanted to make sure that elevator got fixed. His wife had to tell him, 'You're no longer in charge.' But that was typical of Joe." Spriggs, 79, died Aug. 15 in Strasburg, where he retired in 2001. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Janet; two daughters, …

• Photos (1)