VCC Magazine Spring 2018

V irginia C apitol C onnections , S pring 2018 33 It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of our friend, Delegate Harry Robert “Bob” Purkey. Bob passed away on Friday, February 16, 2018. Bob was born on July 13, 1934 in Parsons, West Virginia. He had a rough childhood but was blessed with a loving sister Nancy and a devoted and protective grandmother. He moved to Norfolk, Va. with his family and graduated from Maury High School. It was while attending Maury that he met his future wife, Sonja Firing Purkey, who attended rival Granby High School. After high school Bob attended the Norfolk Division of William and Mary. Bob could not afford to go to college full time, so he worked while attending night school for 8 years to earn his college degree. By then William & Mary Norfolk Division had become Old Dominion College, and then later, Old Dominion University. He was a proud ODU graduate. He also proudly served in the United States Army Reserves. Bob and Sonja married in 1957 and had 3 wonderful children: Harry Robert Purkey, Jr; Charlotte H. Purkey, and Jon Gregory Purkey. Like most young married couples they lived in cramped quarters and starter homes in Norfolk for several years. Bob was working at Continental Grain Company while attending night school. In the late 1960s he was given a job with (then) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Bean. Bob worked for Merrill Lynch for over 5 decades until his retirement in 2015. Bob loved history, government and politics. As a young college student he was energized by one of his professor’s first political campaigns, that of G. William Whitehurst. Thereafter, Bob was involved in local, and then statewide politics. The family moved to Virginia Beach in 1970 where Bob became involved in numerous community and civic organizations.  In 1985, he ran for the House of Delegates representing the 82nd district. He won, along with the rest of the Beach Boys. He was sworn into the Virginia General Assembly in January 1986. He served in the legislature until his retirement in January 2014. He loved meeting residents of his district, helping to solve problems, and working to improve the Commonwealth. He served on and then chaired various committees within the legislature during his 28 years of service, including Chairman of the House Finance Committee. Bob loved public service. (And, he did all this while still working full time at Merrill Lynch!) Bob was a high school athlete in several sports. His love of sports and community combined when he served as a recreational league coach for football and basketball for many, many years. He spent most summer evenings with ball practice and years of Saturdays coaching and attending games. If it was a Saturday in the 1970’s, it was a day with a dozen kids and “Snag” Nesbit and George Parr coaching football, or with Bill Emerson coaching basketball. Bob loved helping those kids…Bob was a fantastic role model for hundreds delightful lady who cared for Harry and her family, and still serves as a role model for good and compassionate parenting. He also leaves his children and grandchildren who will miss him terribly, but I am sure they know how blessed they were to have Harry in their lives. I would be remiss in my comments if I did not mention Harry’s longtime legislative aide Karen Papsadora-Cochrane who still serves as the aide to Delegate Jay Leftwich, a former student of Harry’s. Karen faithfully worked with Harry in the House of Delegates and in the Senate of Virginia, and I know that she is feeling a great sense of loss today. My legislative aide, Christie Craig and I considered Harry as one of our own and we are having difficulty imagining life without our friend. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, we meet many people as we serve the Commonwealth of Virginia as elected officials. There of young kids in our community and he considered his coaching years one of his best accomplishments. It was in Sandbridge that Bob introduced me to his great long time friend Eva Teague Hardy. He loved Eva. We shared dinners in Sandbridge and they shared great stories of travel and the growth of Sandbridge and the growth of Virginia. He would tell me you have to stay close to her. She is brilliant. They were great friends for decades. Then there was the snake story. How he climbed on a step ladder in the backyard of the Sandbridge House, with his shotgun, to blast away at those “Nasty Snakes” The police came and the officer soon joined him on the ladder and told him that there was another coming up from the water and shoot em...shoot em, Bob would just laugh until he was crying on that story. Then the story about the dune buggy on the sand. They had no roads in Sandbridge then. They made their own roads. He would call me and say “DeSteph,What have you done for your country today?” My response was push ups, sit ups, the workout of the day, and then he would tell me to remember to salute the flag. He always would end with “have a great day my friend,” and you knew he meant it. He was a great friend to many. He loved to read and used to read 5 papers every day and underline the key points with a red pen. He loved sharing the news stories and his thoughts about what was going to happen in the world. He would talk about the brilliant minds that were driving the economy. Delegate Bob Purkey was a kind, generous, and very outgoing gentleman. He told everyone he met that they were “so smart,” “so beautiful” or “so handsome.” He hugged everyone.We will miss those big bear hugs. Bob Loved the General Assembly and the people here. He would always say that it was not the bills you passed, it was the bills you stopped from passing that counted. He would tell me about his friends on both sides of the aisle and loved Delegate, at the time, Dance and her perfect hair, Delegate Lucas at the time and would always tell me don’t get her mad, she would put you in your place, then say that she had a heart of gold. Told me stories of Delegate LeeWare… how he was up and coming. More than anything Bob loved his family and Sonia. He joins her in heaven as she passed 6 ½ years ago right by his side with their dogs at their feet. Sonia is the only one that could keep him in line. I request that we adjourn today in memory of a great man-- Delegate Bob Purkey. I ask that we remember his smile, his big laugh, his generous spirit, his warmth, his sense of humor, his compassion, and especially, his love of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Senator Bill DeSteph represents the 8th Senate District. “Bob” Purkey By Senator Bill D e Steph In Memoriam are very few who leave such a lasting impression on our lives, but Harry Burns Blevins, Sr. is one who will always be remembered with a smile and a sense of gratitude for having had his friendship, guidance, and love. Harry, rest in peace, my dear friend. I know that God welcomed you with the words from Mathew 25:21, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”. We will greatly miss you, but we know that heaven is an even brighter place with your entrance. Mr. President, I humbly ask that when the Senate of Virginia adjourns today, we do so in the honor and memory of Senator Harry Burns Blevins, Sr., a great husband, father, grandfather, statesman, legislator, educator, and friend. Senator John Cosgrove represents the 14th Senate District. Continued from previous page PURKEY V V