Bill Text: VA SR621 | 2024 | 1st Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Stewart Hamilton Gamage.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)
Status: (Passed) 2024-06-18 - Bill text as passed Senate (SR621ER) [SR621 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SR621-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, Stewart Hamilton Gamage, a philanthropic leader who had a wide range of experience in the public and private sectors, including service to The College of William and Mary in Virginia and the University of Virginia, died on March 19, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Stewart Gamage grew up in Petersburg and graduated summa cum laude from The College of William and Mary in Virginia, where she was also a member of the tennis team; she later earned a master's degree from the former Washington Public Affairs Center at the University of Southern California; and
WHEREAS, Stewart Gamage began her career in public service working under Governor Chuck Robb, Governor Gerald Baliles, and Richard Gephardt when he was the majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; she subsequently served at the White House as the associate deputy of intergovernmental affairs during the Clinton administration; and
WHEREAS, Stewart Gamage was appointed to William and Mary's Board of Visitors in 1985, then elected as vice rector of the institution from 1989 to 1990 and served for 15 years as vice president of public affairs; and
WHEREAS, Stewart Gamage left an indelible legacy on her alma mater by establishing the Pamela Harriman Foreign Service Fellowships, guiding the creation of the William and Mary Washington Center, and playing a crucial role in bringing leaders of other nations to the Commonwealth to learn about the democratic process; during that period, she also played a role in the establishment of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, which has provided incredible research opportunities for students and faculty across the Virginia Peninsula; and
WHEREAS, Stewart Gamage next served as the director of the historic Morven estate, owned by the University of Virginia, where she created the Presidential Precinct, which welcomed visitors from around the world to study government and democracy; under her leadership, Morven ultimately became the site of a laboratory focusing on nutrition and sustainability in agriculture; and
WHEREAS, while at the University of Virginia, Stewart Gamage also developed the Women's Global Leadership Forum, which featured participation from Hillary Clinton and other prominent women leaders; and
WHEREAS, Stewart Gamage founded several other organizations over the course of her career, including S. Hamilton Consulting, which focused on women's leadership issues, social justice, and racial reconciliation, and the Phoenix Project, an initiative to inspire the Commonwealth's next generation of leaders while building relationships between institutions of higher education and underserved communities; and
WHEREAS, in later life, Stewart Gamage settled in the Richmond area, and she had most recently founded Light Up Ukraine, which raised funds to purchase and deliver thousands of solar-powered lights and refurbished ambulances to support soldiers and civilians in Ukraine during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War; and
WHEREAS, Stewart Gamage was guided by her deep faith throughout her life, and she enjoyed fellowship and worship with the congregation of St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, where she was a member of the vestry and held several other leadership positions; and
WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades for her personal and professional achievements, Stewart Gamage received the Governor's Award for Community Service from Governor Mark Warner in 2005; and
WHEREAS, predeceased by her husband, Joseph, Stewart Gamage will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her sons, Graves and Forbes, and their families; her stepchildren, Ted, Cricket, Virginia, and Carolyn, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Stewart Hamilton Gamage, who made countless contributions to civic engagement, economic empowerment, and human rights over the course of her long and varied career; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Stewart Hamilton Gamage as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for her memory.
