Former Henrico County Manager LaVecchia dies at 95

Former Henrico County Manager William F. “Bill” LaVecchia has died at the age of 95.

Current County Manager John Vithoulkas has ordered the Henrico County flag to be lowered to half-staff at all county buildings and facilities through sunset Nov. 26 in tribute to LaVecchia and his service to the county.

“Bill was a wonderful, kind person and clearly one of the giants of Henrico County,” Vithoulkas said. “He had that rare combination of gifts that distinguish outstanding leaders. He exuded personal warmth and compassion for people. He also had unmatched expertise, professionalism and attention to detail. Through his vision and leadership, Bill truly helped make Henrico County the great place it is to live and work today.”

LaVecchia played a key role in helping to guide Henrico through a period of significant transition from the 1960s through the early 1990s.

He began his Henrico career in 1959 as the county’s director of planning, following stints as city engineer and assistant city manager in Athens, Tennessee and town manager of Blacksburg, Virginia.

In June 1978, he was named to the role of deputy county manager for planning and inspections – one of three newly created deputy manager positions.

When then-County Manager Frank Faison resigned under pressure in May 1984, LaVecchia became acting manager, a position to which he was named permanently a month later by a 4-1 vote of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors.

LaVecchia continued in the role for more than seven years until his retirement in 1992. He was the sixth person to lead Henrico’s government administration under its county manager form, which was adopted in 1934.

Soon after his arrival, LaVecchia played a critical role in what would shape Henrico’s growth for decades to come. Drawing on his experience in Blacksburg, he encouraged then-County Manager Edward Beck to attend hearings that would determine Interstate 64’s route through the Richmond region. The two men were the only administrators from the region to attend, and they ultimately were successful in lobbying for a northern route that would extend the highway through Henrico, positioning the county for development, jobs and investment that continue today.

County officials remember LaVecchia as a voice of compassion who was known for leading with a personal touch – routinely connecting with employees, implementing a suggestion box in the lobby of the Administration Building and even writing letters to each one on the anniversary of their employment with the county.

LaVecchia oversaw the construction of the Eastern Government Center in 1988 and witnessed the county’s population grow by more than a fifth between 1980 and 1990. His tenure was marked by an increased investment in infrastructure projects, including schools, roads, libraries and other facilities.