Thomas Boyajy

Major, U.S. Marine Corps

Professor, U.S. Naval Academy; First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps; and Major, USMCR.

Thomas Boyajy was born on 24 August 1912, in College Point, NY. His parents, Gabriel and Tooma Boyajy, ran a grocery store in Springfield, MA, for many years before retiring to Wilbraham, MA.

Boyajy attended elementary and high schools in Springfield and graduated from American International College in 1940. He was president of his class at A.I.C. and played soccer and baseball. He undertook graduate studies at Yale University and received his Master's degree from the Hartford Seminary.

Thomas Boyajy served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II as a First Lieutenant and met his future wife, the former Beverly Thybony, while at Officer's Candidate School in Quantico, VA. At the time, Beverly was a Marine Sergeant assigned to the Naval Annex in Arlington, VA. In February of 1944, they were married at Saint John's, Lafayette Square, Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, and honeymooned at Boyajy's first assignment with a Marine aviation unit in Cherry Point, NC.

Shortly after their marriage, Lieutenant Boyajy was shipped out to the Island of Saipan, where he supported the invasions there and at Iwo Jima. Boyajy attained the rank of Major in the Marine Corps Reserves.

At the U.S. Naval Academy, in addition to his academic responsibilities as Associate Professor of Political Science, Boyajy served as an assistant coach for the men's soccer, baseball, and 150-pound football teams, ran the clock at the men's basketball games, and was the faculty representative on the women's basketball team. He was sought after as a master-of-ceremonies for Academy events, especially at "pep" rallies before the Army-Navy football games, and received several citations from the Superintendent for his service to the Academy. He taught at the Academy for 45 years before retiring. He also taught at Anne Arundel Community College and George Washington University.

Death and Burial

Thomas Boyajy passed away on Sunday, 28 November 2010, in Annapolis, after a brief hospitalization. He is inurned at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD.

Boyajy was predeceased by his brothers, Ned and George; and his sister, Lucy, all of Springfield. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; his children, William of Gaithersburg, MD; Thomas of Westport, CT; and Susan Truitt of Millersville, MD; his sister, Mary Boyajy of Wilbraham; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

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