PORTSMOUTH- Emil Anthony Viola, 83, of Portsmouth, Virginia gently passed away in his home on Saturday, November 24, 2018.

He is survived by his wife of eleven years, Geneva Cherry Viola; children Sam (Rita), Elizabeth (Henry), Chip Cherry (Betty), Anthony (Marvetta), Dale Cherry (Laura), David Cherry (Terri), Teresa, Mary Lou, Pat (Tanya), and Seth; a brother, Pat (Mary Ann); two sisters, Mary Anne and Louise; forty-two grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. Emil is predeceased by his parents, Sam and Betty; his wife Phyllis of forty-nine years; his son Michael; his great-granddaughter Natalie; and his sister Lucille.

Emil graduated with honors from Virginia Tech, with a degree in Architectural Engineering.  Emil also excelled in the Corp of Cadets as a member of the Battalion Staff. After serving in the Air Force, he returned home in 1959 and co-founded Vico Construction Corporation. Later becoming Chairman of the Board and President of the company, he led Vico's growth and expansion, which has today become one of the largest full-service site development and utility construction companies in the region.

In 1980, after having served as the contractor for multiple developments through Vico, Emil decided to partner with others to ultimately form Galberry Corporation, a residential development company in which he served as President. Since its inception, Galberry has completed a number of communities containing more than 2,500 single-family residential lots and various apartment complexes.

Emil also co-founded and served as Chairman of The Bank of Hampton Roads in 1987, later acquired by Xenith Bank.  He joined with others to pioneer the Great Dismal Swamp Restoration Bank in 1997, as a wetlands mitigation bank whose objective is to restore farmland to natural wetland environments; the company continues in this capacity today. Furthermore, he served as both the managing member and an investor in numerous other entities related to the development, construction, sale, and leasing of residential and commercial real estate, as well as equipment leasing.

In addition to his business ventures, Emil served many community organizations in various capacities. Among those, he was a founding member and the second President of the Tidewater Utility Contractors Association. He also most recently served on the Finance Council of the Church of St. Thérèse and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Virginia Community Foundation. He was a member of the Chesapeake Alliance and the Chesapeake Public Schools Blue Ribbon Committee.

Emil was the recipient of a number of awards, including both the Extra Mile and Lifetime Achievement awards from the Tidewater Builders' Association. He was a quiet supporter of numerous organizations including the Oasis Social Ministries, the Maison Fortuné Orphanage Foundation in Haiti, St. Mary's Home, the Chesapeake 4-H Livestock Club, the Special Olympics, the Deep Creek Ruritan Club, the Boy Scouts of America, the Chesapeake Public Schools System, Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School, the Hospice House of Williamsburg, and many others.

Throughout his life, Emil greatly treasured the relationships that he built with others and was widely regarded as a good friend and respected businessman to many in the community.  He felt that his greatest success was his family, whom he cherished immensely.

A Liturgy of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Fr. Kevin J. O'Brien and Fr. Robert Cummins at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, November 29, at the Church of St. Thérèse, 4137 Portsmouth Blvd., Chesapeake. A reception will immediately follow the service, with a burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens, 4569 Shoulders Hill Rd. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to CHKD, St. Mary's Home, or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.