Former ODU First Lady Anne Hunter Bugg Dies
January 07, 2014
Anne Hunter Bugg
Former Old Dominion University first lady Anne Hunter Bugg, 88, died Monday, December 30, 2013, at Harbor's Edge in Norfolk. She was a native of Tampa, Fla., and a resident of Norfolk since 1969.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, James L. Bugg Jr., who served as president of ODU from 1969 to 1976.
As noted in "Old Dominion University: From the Great Depression to the New Millennium," Bugg's first task as first lady was to find and refurbish a place to live - a home that would both meet the needs of her family and serve as a suitable presidential residence:
"With long-range vision and good taste, she found a house close to the campus, on the banks of the Elizabeth River, that would fit the bill for University functions and social events for decades to come. She also managed the residence's groundskeeping and landscaping.
"One of her first official duties involved hosting the entire incoming freshman class, making each student feel welcome, not only in her home, but at Old Dominion. ...
"Like Virginia Rice Webb before her, Anne Bugg was concerned with women's issues, supporting her husband in his efforts to bring women faculty members' salaries to parity with those of the men, and laid the groundwork to get a daycare facility on campus to accommodate the University staff.
"She also made cultivating alumni a priority, believing - rightly - that they are key to the University's success and progress."
Bugg graduated from Florida State University with a degree in philosophy and received a master's in religious education from the University of California, Berkley. She formerly was the education director for the Episcopal Diocese of Florida as well as an educator in Columbia, Mo.
Perhaps one of her proudest accomplishments was the creation of a preschool in St. Louis. She saw the need in the underprivileged, inner-city population and taught hundreds of students; she also taught job interview skills to their mothers. The program she created became the Head Start Program. Most recently she was a Suzuki violin music teacher for more than 20 years, during which time she touched the lives of many violin students and their families. Her love of the Suzuki method, the violin and music in general inspired all whom she taught.
Bugg was an active member of Christ & St. Luke's Episcopal Church, where she was a former member of the Vestry, Sunday school teacher and a member of St. Stephen's Ministry. She was also a member of the ODU Faculty Wives Club.
In addition to her husband, James L. Bugg Jr., of Norfolk, she is survived by her daughter, Anne B. Payne, and her husband George Jr., and her son, James L. Bugg III and his wife, Ann Stuart, all of Norfolk. She is also survived by her sisters, Leah Hackney of Beverly Hills, Fla., and Virginia Buckholtz of Willis, Texas, and her brothers, Frank Hunter of Montgomery, Ala., and Dick Hunter of Hollywood, Fla. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jamie Elizabeth Payne, Hunter Scott Payne, James L. (Jimmy) Bugg IV and Ramsey Burnell Bugg, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and adoring violin students.
A memorial service was held at Christ & St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Jan. 3.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at hdoliver.com.