Craig Garrett Van de Castle, 52, of Browns Cove, passed away Sunday morning, August 2, 2009, from pancreatic cancer with his last words of "I love you" as his two brothers, Keith and Drake carried him upstairs.

He was born on September 22, 1956, in Durham, North Carolina, to Dr. Robert Leon Van de Castle and the late Doris Jean Van de Castle. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Brett Omar Van de Castle and Lance Whitney Van de Castle.

Craig was born in Durham, North Carolina, but had the priviledge to live in Pocatello, Idaho, Miami, Florida, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and finally Charlottesville, Virginia, by the time he was 10 years old as his father completed his PhD. As a child he was so excited about a dream he had about becoming an Eagle Scout that he got the family up early to share his vision. He went on to become the youngest Eagle Scout in the Stonewall Jackson District at age 13 while a member of Troop 36. He went on to receive both the Bronze and Gold Eagle Palms. His commitment to the Boy Scouts continued as he became a hikemaster where he lead weekly 20 mile hikes to Elliot's Knob while a camp counselor at Camp Shenandoah.

In his academic pursuits, he graduated 18th out of a class of 500 from the Albemarle High School Class of 1974. After high school graduation, he went on a one-year tour of major European cities and their gardens in France, England, Scotland, Spain, Morroco, and the Canary Islands. He then went to the University of Virginia where he was an Echols Scholar and had the honor to live on The Range. In 1980, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, with distinction in History. After graduation he won a scholarship from the Victorian Society for the study of Victorian architectural history in England. He received his Juris Doctor in 1983 from the University of Virginia Law School. He became a clerk for Ellen V. Nash and then practiced law at Wood and Stone until 1986. He then went to work at the National Legal Research Group where he specialized in the law of governmental bodies.

He was also an active basketball and soccer player. He played on the DAS Football Club in Charlottesville that was a Quarterfinalist in the 1988 Queen City Invitational Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a Finalist in the Virginia State Games in Roanoke, Virginia.

His love of the outdoors stayed strong during this time as he was part of the first group of garden guides at Monticello in 1984 and then became a gardener there in 1987. His love of the University of Virginia and the beautiful grounds drew him back in 1994 where he became a groundskeeper at UVa and took care of the Lawn, Pavillion Gardens, Monroe Hill and the University Cemetery. In 1997, he became a private landscaper and worked on some of the finest estates in Albemarle and surrounding counties.

The work he loved the most was the 36 years of blood, sweat and tears that he put into Blackberry Hill Farm where he created an extensive series of trails, rock walls, terraced lawns, and flower beds throughout the beautiful 40 acre farm.

He is survived by his brothers, Keith Van de Castle in Nashville, Tennessee, and Drake Van de Castle in Crozet, Virginia; and his father, Dr. Robert Van de Castle in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The family would like to give special thanks to the caring staffs at Hospice of the Piedmont and Dr. Leslie Blackhall at the University of Virginia Cancer Center.

A Celebration of Craig will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, August 8, 2009, at 5027 Blackberry Hill Farm, Crozet, VA 22932. Contact Drake at 434-242-2230 with any questions. Bring your musical instrument, lawn chair, favorite drink, and favorite dish to share as we will have a bonfire to celebrate all the gifts Craig shared with this world.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911 or plant a tree in his honor.

Preddy Funeral Home of Madison is handling the arrangements.