The Virginia Law Foundation joins many in mourning the loss of Henry N. “Harry” Ware, Jr., who passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
The VLF remembers Harry as an exemplary lawyer, a leader of great integrity and grace, and a true friend to many. “Harry has been a dear, dear friend for many years. Clearly, I am not alone. I just returned from his funeral today. There had to be over five hundred people in attendance. If the church was larger there would have been a thousand. Or more. There has never been a better man. Everyone who knew him, loved him – starting with me,” shares Ray White, Executive Director of the Virginia Law Foundation.
Harry’s 40-year career exemplifies his sincere commitment to the practice of law and to the Commonwealth of Virginia. After receiving his Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law, Harry gained extensive experience at McGuireWoods early in his career before establishing his own law firm, Cook, Ware & Heyward, P.C., in 1993. In 2001, he joined Spotts Fain as a partner and was most recently Senior Counsel and practice group chair with the firm. A skilled litigator practicing in both federal and state courts, he had extensive experience in product liability and toxic torts as well as asbestos litigation defense and insurance coverage.
While his career demonstrated outstanding service to the practice of law, Harry was equally dedicated to his community. He was Chair of the Virginia Bar Association’s Civil Litigation Section and also of its Corporate Counsel Section, and in 2009, he was appointed to the Boyd-Graves Conference. In 2023, he was recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly as part of their most recent class of Leaders in the Law.
As a board member, Fellow, and advocate, Harry was deeply engaged in the Virginia Law Foundation’s mission and work. Most recently, he was a member of the Finance, Governance, and CLE Committees, and he was a former chair of the CLE Committee.
A native of Virginia, Harry’s life was rooted at his family farm, Bellevue, with Marilynn, his beloved wife of 39 years. To know Harry was to know that he loved his family and cherished his days spent on the farm with Marilynn, his sons, daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren.
To learn more about Harry’s life and impact, please read his obituary here.
