George Montgomery Van Sant, 85, born in State College, Pennsylvania on November 20, 1927, passed away on January 20, 2013 from a stroke. He retired as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1990.

He was admitted to St John’s College, Annapolis, Maryland on a State Senatorial Scholarship and enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps in June of 1945. He was shipped overseas to join the 1st Marine Division in North China. After his release in 1946, he returned to St John’s and graduated in 1948.

Recalled by the Marine Corps in the summer of 1950, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant. He served a year in Korean combat in various capacities, ending as assistant battalion officer. In 1953, he entered graduate school to study philosophy at the University of Virginia, where he was elected to the Raven Society and Omicron Delta Kappa. He served as President of the Graduate Student Body and as a member of the University’s Honor Council. Dr. Van Sant was appointed Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia in 1958. He served as Chairman of the department, Marshall of the Faculty and Chairman of the Inaugural Committee for two presidents of the college. He was elected to honorary membership in Mortar Board and Phi Beta Kappa. He spent a year as a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University, U. K. in 1971.

From 1953 until 1977, Mr. Van Sant worked in academia and in active duty with the USMC. He trained officer candidates in a number of different Marine Corps programs and was a faculty member at several Marine Corps educational institutions. He retired from the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1977 as a Colonel. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, the Purple Heart and a Meritorious Service Medal awarded before his retirement.

Mr.Van Sant was active in the local community of Fredericksburg as an original member of the Fredericksburg Chapter of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Board Member and President and Drive Chairman of the Rappahannock United Way. He served many terms on the Board of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, leading up to chairmanship. He was elected to three four-terms on the Fredericksburg City Council and was a member of the Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania Annexation team. He was instrumental in getting the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Culture Center established and was actively involved in the Old Town restoration effort. He discovered a flaw in the Commonwealth of Virginia “composite index” resulting in cities being unfairly funded for education. He chaired the Municipal League’s Transportation Committee in 1986-87.

He moved with his wife to Rappahannock Westminster- Canterbury in Irvington in 2004, which he credited with helping to prolong his life. He served as a founding Board member of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Neck, and on the Board of the Lancaster County Community Library.

He was predeceased by his younger sister, Peggy; three wives, Shirley Miller Van Sant, Peggy Hutchinson Van Sant, the mother of his children, and Susan J. Hanna. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Milena Stamm Van Sant. He was also predeceased by his son, Edward Dunbar Van Sant who died at age 52 in 2007. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Van Sant Duncan and her husband, Buddy; four stepchildren, Andrea Micklem, Steven Votta, Nicole Tomiczek and Brandon Votta, their spouses and nine step grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held 2:00 p. m. Monday, February 11 at Grace Episcopal Church, Kilmarnock.


Memorials may be made to Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury Foundation, 132 Lancaster Drive, Irvington, VA 22480, Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Neck, P. O. Box 564, Kilmarnock, VA 22482, Lancaster Community Library, P. O. Box 850, Kilmarnock, VA 22482 or a charity of your choice.

Affiliations