September 22, 2011 — Charles Melvin Heuchert, a retired professor at the University of Virginia Curry School of Education, died in Waynesboro, Va. on Sept. 20. His funeral will be held Sept. 23, 4 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro, at the corner of 11th and Wayne Ave.

After serving in the United States Air Force as a psychiatric social worker technician, stationed at the Air Force hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany, Heuchert went to University of Michigan and Syracuse University. He began his higher education teaching career as a lecturer in special education at Syracuse in 1963 and held posts at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University before joining the Curry School of Education faculty in 1969 as an assistant professor. He remained at U.Va. for three decades, touching the lives of thousands of students before his retirement in 1998 as associate dean for undergraduate programs and licensure.

He was a leader in the field of special education, including having served as international president of the Council for Exceptional Children, president of the Virginia State Federation of the Council for Exceptional Children, and president and founder of the Virginia State Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders.

His favorite summers were spent as the summer camp director at Camp Holiday Trails, a residential camp for children with chronic health impairments. His love for children from all backgrounds, his gift for fun and improvisation, his mentorship of the camp staff and his mastery of the camp dress-up box were the stuff of legend. He later joined the camp's board of directors and served as president in 1997 and 1998.

He and his wife resided in Waynesboro and Topsail Island, N.C. His son, Dan Heuchert, is assistant director of media relations in U.Va.'s Office of Public Affairs.

Daily Progress obituary