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Passing of Virginia Wesleyan Trustee Anne B. Shumadine
Shumadine was a guiding inspiration to her fellow Trustees and the entire campus community
Longtime Virginia Wesleyan University Trustee Anne B. Shumadine passed away on July 24, President Scott D. Miller has shared with the campus community.
“Anne's service to the University as a member of our Board was thoughtful, gracious, and indicative of her devotion to the ideals of education and commitment to community,” said Dr. Miller. “A guiding inspiration to her fellow Trustees and to our entire campus community, Anne will be deeply missed.”
Shumadine joined the Board of Trustees in 2005. Her mother, Helen Ballard Hoffman, also served on the Board for more than 35 years and was recognized by the University in 2003 with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Her son, Jim Shumadine, recently joined the Board, representing three generations of service to Virginia Wesleyan.
Shumadine was chair and founder of Signature Family Wealth Advisors, an independent, multi-family office founded in 1994 that is dedicated to providing sophisticated planning solutions to wealthy individuals and families. She was active in the business community in Hampton Roads and served on the board of numerous non-profit institutions. She was a former Rector of the Board of Visitors of Eastern Virginia Medical School and former Rector of the Board of Visitors of Old Dominion University. She was a Trustee of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, ACCESS College Foundation, and the ODU Educational Foundation, and a member of the Wellesley College Business Leadership Council.
During the formation of the Batten Honors College in 2017, Virginia Wesleyan University recognized her leadership and lasting legacy by establishing two-thirds tuition scholarships for Batten Honors College students known as Shumadine Scholars.
Also in 2017, Shumadine was honored with The T.C. and Elizabeth Clarke Medallion. The Clarke Medallion is the highest honor of the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary, and is awarded by the business school faculty to an individual whose distinguished career and contributions to business management represent the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
She was recognized in 2014 by Junior Achievement of Hampton Roads in the Business Hall of Fame, and in 2011 she received the Citizen Lawyer award from the William & Mary School of Law and the Barron F. Black Community Builder Award from the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. She was also recognized in 2011 by LEAD Hampton Roads with its Visionary Award for business leaders. She was a graduate of Wellesley College and William & Mary Law School.
“We are grateful for Anne's numerous contributions to our community and to our institution, which she served so faithfully,” Dr. Miller said, “and we extend our sincerest sympathy to her husband, Conrad, and two sons, John and Jim.”
A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 29, at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, located at 7400 Hampton Blvd. in Norfolk.