Honoring the past //
When the headstone of a prominent Richmond physician born into slavery around 1852 was taken last year from historic East End Cemetery, his descendants and other volunteers raised money to purchase a new headstone.
The new marker for Dr. Richard F. Tancil was dedicated Oct. 22 during a short ceremony at the cemetery to honor the remarkable man who graduated from Howard University’s medical school and set up a practice in Church Hill. He also started the Nickel Savings Bank in 1896, and operated it out of his East End home.
Instrumental in replacing the grave marker are, standing from left, Dr. Tancil’s great-granddaughter-in-law, Susan Mitchell; John Shuck, coordinator of cleanup and restoration efforts at East End Cemetery; Jess Kilgore, Melissa Pocock and Bruce Tarr. Also, kneeling from left, Brian Palmer, Justin Curtis and Erin Palmer.
East End Cemetery, established around 1897, is the final resting place for more than 13,000 people, including pioneering educator and civic leader Rosa D. Bowser; Hezekiah F. Jonathan, vice president of Mechanics Savings Bank; and William Custalo, longtime proprietor of the Custalo House bar and restaurant on Broad Street.
