The Darlington community was saddened by the death of former faculty member E.V. “Doc” Regester on Dec. 22, 2006. Regester served the School for 28 years as associate headmaster, English teacher, director of counseling and guidance, and editor of the first alumni publication.
“Doc really belonged to a vanishing era of private school men – men of a selfless professionalism, school men who served their careers in one place, and who over time came to embody the institution,” said David Powell, Thatcher Chair of English.
Born May 1, 1915 in Alexandria, Va., Doc was raised primarily by his grandparents, the Rev. and Mrs. Eldridge Veitch Regester, in pastorates around northern Virginia and Washington, DC. He attended various boarding schools, notably Pennington in New Jersey and Northfield – Mt. Hermon in Mass., which was then a boys’ school. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 1937 and began teaching at Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, Va. He subsequently completed graduate work at the Universities of Virginia and Georgia, where he earned his master’s.
Doc married the late Juliana Hartsook June 2, 1939 in Ashland, Va. The couple came to Darlington in 1946 for one year and returned in 1958. Juliana served the School as grounds supervisor, postmistress and as Doc’s secretary, helping to compile the first alumni records. It was here at they raised their daughters, Julie and Scotty (’66T), in a house that stood where Regester House is currently located. A portrait of Doc, painted by Suzanne Royal ('77), hangs in Dodd Dining Room in honor of his dedicated service to Darlington.
“Doc Regester was one of the grandest teachers in the history of Darlington,” said Gordon Lee Hight II (’62). “He kindled within my inert and childish intellect an appreciation for the loveliness of gifted expression.”
“Doc’s real legacy to all of his students, to the English department, and to Darlington is this: it is a legacy of uncompromising high standards – the belief that you should always expect students to strive for excellence … ” said Powell.
Doc was preceded in death by his wife Nov. 2, 2002. He is survived by his daughters, Julie Franklin (George) and Scotty Regester; grandchildren, Carey Hutson (Joe) and Stacy Hartranft (Scott); great-grandchildren, Zachary Hartranft and Alexis Hartranft; sister, Ann Mathews (Brent); and a number of nieces and nephews.
Darlington School has set up a memorial fund for E.V. “Doc” Regester. Checks made payable to Darlington School may be sent to Darlington School, Advancement Office, 1014 Cave Spring Rd., Rome, GA, 30161. Please specify that your contribution is for Doc Regester’s memorial fund. You may also call 706-802-4373 to make a gift by phone.
