Collins Beagle (Eugene Collins Beagle II) passed on September 1,2024 at his residence, with his family by his side, after a lengthy illness. He was born on September 4th, 1947, in Charlottesville, VA., the son of Eugene Collins Beagle of Staunton, VA, who was the Postmaster of Charlottesville, VA, for 20 years and of Mary Elizabeth Badgett of Louisa County, VA.

He was raised in Charlottesville, VA, graduating from Lane High School in 1966. In his junior year Collins’ Science Project won 1st Place for Physics in the statewide Virginia Junior Science competition and in his senior year he was a National Merit Scholar Finalist.

He was preceded in death by his dear younger brother Harry Badgett Beagle who died way too young; he was born October 14, 1949 and died August 20, 1963 due to a tragic accident.

Collins served in the United States Army Security Agency from June, 1967 – June, 1971. This included a year of service in South Vietnam from July, 1969 – July, 1970 where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He also was awarded the Army Good Conduct Metal and Certificate of Achievement. He was a member of American Legion Post 74.

During this time he met his life mate, Charlotte Gail McDaniel of Greenwood, VA; they were married September 28, 1968. Though they were not blessed with children they have lived a full life together and have many loving nieces and nephews.

Upon his discharge from the Army he returned as a student to the University of Virginia where he was an Echols Scholar in the College of Arts and Sciences. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree ‘With Distinction’ in May, 1974. He later returned and did graduate work at the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering where he received a Master of Applied Mathematics degree in May, 1981.

By profession he was a computer Systems Analyst who worked primarily in the private sector but spent 10 years at the University. His proudest position was as the University of Virginia’s first Director of Development Information Systems. He served in this position from 1988 – 1998 where he was responsible for managing the computer systems used by the University in supporting alumni relations and University fund raising. He was instrumental in selecting, installing, and managing the computer system that supported the University’s first $1Billion Capital Campaign that started in 1993 and ended very successfully in 2000. He was a member of the University’s Retired Faculty Association.

Though he worked with computers, a lifelong passion was for music which Charlotte and he supported in the community for decades. He did not have the talent to be a performer but he had a strong interest in audio and had a technical bent so he became a good recording engineer. Charlotte on the other hand was an excellent singer. The first live performance Collins ever recorded was of Vivaldi’s Gloria by the Piedmont Virginia Community College Choir in the late 1970’s where Charlotte had the contralto soloist role. He had never heard how big and beautiful her voice was until that night. This was the first of many live performance recording he would make over the next 20 plus years.

He started recording groups at the University of Virginia during the late 1970’s when he was a graduate student. The main period of activity though was during 1985 – 2000 when Collins and his faithful roadie Charlotte, as volunteers, used their equipment and started recoding the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra for radio broadcast on NPR radio station WVTF’s program “Music Around Roanoke” hosted by Bill Svec. These taped performances gave the Symphony a much broader regional reach and exposure.

In the early years during this period they also recorded the other University related professional groups: The Albemarle Ensemble and the Monticello Trio as well as the vocal groups the University Singers, the Women’s Chorus, and the University Glee Club.

Collins also was active with the Tuesday Evening Concert Series at the University. He was honored to be elected to their Board of Directors in the spring of 1989. During his final year on the board in 1992-93 he was elected Vice-President of the Board. The Tuesday Evening Concert Series brings small professional ensembles to the University community. Some of these groups agreed to be recorded for local use. A recording of the Camerata Bern ensemble made in the Fall of 1989 was the first recording made at the University that got national exposure by being played on the NPR program “Performance Today” (from American Public Media). They nominated that recording as “Best Recording of a Large Ensemble” that year.

Of greater significance was that a few months later a recording of the University’s Monticello Trio was selected by “Performance Today” for broadcast. This was the first time a performance of a University group got national exposure.

In 1991 they also were asked to make a recording of the Virginia Glee Club’s 50th Annual Christmas Concert.

As the years went by and other demands were made on their time they recorded fewer groups but kept their core loyalty to the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra which they have maintained with financial support to this day. They stopped recording after the spring of 2000 when Collins suffered a knee injury.

In general they have offered financial support to a variety of local and regional performance groups. In the past they were donors to the Washington Performing Arts Society at the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap. For many years they also have supported the Charlottesville Opera Company and the Paramount Theatre.

From his father Collins also developed a passion for attending plays. Collins did not realize it until after his father retired but his father had a strong interest in drama that dated back to his days in high school. His father started to be a regular subscriber to dramas performed at the University of Virginia. In particular he subscribed to opening night performances.

In 1989 his father invited Collins to join him in attending literally the world premiere of Adam Sorkin’s A Few Good Men with Tom Hulce as part of the Heritage Repertory Theatre. From that point on he went to every production with his father that was produced by either the University’s Department of Drama or the Heritage Repertory Theatre until health issues prevented his father from attending.

At that point Charlotte starting going with Collins instead which has led to a lifelong commitment to supporting drama at the University’s Department of Drama and at the Heritage Theatre Festival. When the BlackFriars Playhouse opened in Staunton in 2001 they also started attending performances of the American Shakespeare Center there. They have been regular subscribers and supporters ever since.

Though his mind is geared towards being a mathematician, Collins has always had a strong interest in history, especially that history associated with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe and the founding of our country and the University of Virginia. For the first 50 years of Collins’ life his family owned “The Farm” which was a defining element of his view of life.

The “Farm” stood on a 1020-acre tract acquired by Nicholas Meriwether in 1735 and later owned by Col. Nicholas Lewis, uncle of Meriwether Lewis. A building on the property likely served as headquarters for British Col. Banastre Tarleton briefly in June 1781. In 1825, Charlottesville lawyer and later University of Virginia law professor. John A. G. Davis purchased a portion of the original tract and engaged Thomas Jefferson’s workmen Mr. Blackburn to design and build this house. It is considered one of the best surviving examples of Jeffersonian residential architecture. Maj. Gen. George A. Custer occupied the house as his headquarters for a brief time in 1865 during the Civil War.

For these first 50 years Collins’ constantly was immersed walking and living in the same place Thomas Jefferson, the Lewis’ etc. lived. It was like he was raised in their presence

Charlotte and Collins share these interests and both have been active in supporting related local institutions. They have supported various areas of the University of Virginia for decades. For many years they also have supporting Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Library and Foundation. They both have been volunteers at the Thomas Jefferson Library at Monticello and have enjoyed being part of Monticello’s extended family.

Besides his loving wife Charlotte, he is survived by three brothers-in-law, Lloyd D. McDaniel of Waynesboro, James L. McDaniel of Waynesboro, and Pete (Charlotte) McDaniel of Charlottesville. One sister-in-law, Bobbie Sittloh of Port Orange, Florida. Two cousins Melanie (Malcome) Greaves of Texas and Sandi (Carl) Badgett of California. He is also survived my numerous nieces and nephews.

Special gratitude goes to nieces and nephews Jeff, Kathy, and Cori McDaniel, Trina and Linda McDaniel, and Beth Horn.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit Hill and Wood Funeral Service.