March 9, 2005

By Dan Heuchert

A long-time Virginia legislator, a prominent member of the New York banking community and a Norfolk lawyer will join the University’s Board of Visitors when it next convenes March 31.

Gov. Mark R. Warner announced Tuesday that he has appointed former state Del. Alan A. Diamonstein, A. MacDonald “Mac” Caputo and Vincent J. Mastracco Jr., respectively, to serve four-year terms on U.Va.’s governing board.

They replace Terence P. Ross and William G. Crutchfield Jr., who served two terms and were ineligible for re-appointment; and Thomas A. Saunders III, an appointee of former Gov. James S. Gilmore whom Warner opted not to re-appoint.

Warner did re-appoint another Gilmore pick, vice rector Thomas F. Farrell II, who is expected to become rector of the Board of Visitors this summer.

“Each of these individuals has strong ties to the University of Virginia, outstanding records of community leadership and a demonstrated commitment to ensuring access to a quality higher education for all Virginians,” Warner said.

“The University could not be more pleased with the outstanding appointments to our board made today by Governor Warner,” said the current rector, Gordon F. Rainey Jr. “Each has a long record of distinguished service to U.Va.

“I wish also to acknowledge the invaluable contributions made by our members who are retiring from the board. We are grateful for their service and look forward to their continued involvement in University life.”

Diamonstein, 73, received a U.Va. bachelor’s degree in commerce in 1955 and an LL.B. degree in 1959 from the Law School. He represented his native Newport News in Virginia’s House of Delegates from 1967 until 2002, and served as chairman of the House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee. He is a senior partner in the Newport News law firm of Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein.

“This is truly great news for the University of Virginia,” said politics professor Larry J. Sabato. “Alan was consistently pro-higher education while serving for decades in the Virginia House of Delegates. His political skills and long institutional memory will benefit the University in many ways.”

Diamonstein also chaired the Virginia Democratic Party from 1982 through 1986 and the Southern Democratic Caucus from 1984 through 1992. On the national scene, he was a member of the Democratic National Committee Executive Committee and was twice called to service by former President Bill Clinton, as a member of the board of the National Housing Partnership and as a member of the President’s Legislative Council.

Caputo, another “double ¢Hoo” with undergraduate English (1963) and law (1966) degrees, has long been active in University affairs. He is a member of the board of the University of Virginia Investment Management Corp., which manages U.Va.’s endowments; and is a member of the capital campaign’s national executive committee, the executive board of the Jefferson Scholars Program, the Board of Trustees of the College of Arts & Sciences, the Law School Business Advisory Board, and the executive committee overseeing the John Paul Jones Arena project. Additionally, he is past chairman of the Board of Managers of the Alumni Association.

While an undergraduate, Caputo captained the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams — he was named a first-team All-American in lacrosse — and was a member of numerous student organizations. He is currently an advisory director of a major New York City-based investment bank and lives in Greenwich, Conn. Two of his sons are students at the University: Mac, 24, now enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences after earning an undergraduate degree here; and Scott, 22, a fourth-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Mastracco, 65, earned a B.A. from the University in 1961 and advanced law degrees from the University of Richmond and New York University. He is a partner in the law firm of Kaufman & Canoles P.C., the largest in the Hampton Roads region, specializing in business law. He is a 2005 fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation and in 2004 was named one of the state’s “legal elite” by Virginia Business magazine.

Active in Norfolk civic affairs, Mastracco sits on boards of directors for SunTrust Bank, Norfolk Academy, Virginia Wesleyan College and the Virginia Symphony. He chairs the Finance and Investment Committee for the Eastern Virginia Medical School Foundation, and is a member of the Hampton Roads Partnership, an alliance of elected officials and business leaders who address regional issues. He also helped form the Greater Norfolk Corp., a group of business leaders dedicated to promoting economic development in the city.

Mastracco served as a campaign volunteer for the Arts & Sciences Alumni Council from 1987 until 1993. As an undergraduate, he was a member of several student organizations. His daughter, Sarah, is a 1993 graduate of U.Va.’s Nursing School.
Farrell, 50, is president and chief operating officer of Dominion. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University. He was elected vice rector in 2004, and will succeed Rainey as rector in July.

Rainey’s term as rector will expire, but he will remain on the board.