Thomas Gibbons ‘58
Commander Thomas Gibbons, USN (Ret), of Alexandria, VA, died on November 6, 2024, of natural causes. At 88 years old, he was a man of strong faith, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who passed surrounded by his children.
Tom was born in Bronx, NY and moved incrementally eastward to finally end up in West Islip and graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola in 1953 with a Congressional Alternate Appointment to the Naval Academy. Initially disappointed when the Principal Appointee was accepted, Tom enlisted in the Navy, at Great Lakes Naval Center. However, he overcame the disappointment as he met the love of his life, Marie, in Chicago. Then in 1954, he received a Congressional Appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He entered the Academy with the Class of 1958 and earned the nickname of “Scotty” for playing his bagpipes at noon meal formations.
Upon graduation with the 19th company on June 4, 1958, Scotty married Marie Therese Carney on June 5, 1958, and reported to Pensacola, FL for flight training. Receiving his Wings on December 22, 1959, Scotty joined Patrol Squadron Seven (VP-7) in Brunswick, ME, deploying to Argentia, New Foundland; Sigonnella, Sicily; Rota, Spain; and a squadron move to Jacksonville, FL. Subsequent duty included Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA; Patrol Squadron Fifty-Six (VP-56) in Norfolk, VA; Engineering Instructor at the Naval Academy; Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM; USS John F. Kennedy, CVA 67; Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet Staff, Norfolk, VA; Defense Systems Management School, Ft. Belvoir, VA; and Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC. Tom received a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1966 and was a Distinguished Graduate from the Defense Systems Management School in 1975.
After retiring from the Navy in 1978, Tom continued serving the Navy as a contractor, supporting Sidewinder and Sparrow Missile Foreign Military Sales until his retirement in 1998. He continued serving the Class of 1958 as the Company Representative for his 19th Company classmates and widows for many years. During his retirement, Tom enjoyed several passions including fine woodworking (he handmade spectacular baby cribs for all of his children, along with cabinets, dressers, dining room tables and hutches). Not the least of his passions was traveling and visiting with the grands.
Tom was predeceased by his wife Marie on March 16, 1996, and survivors include his 4 children and their spouses: Thomas J. Gibbons & Alexis S Gibbons of Dallas, TX; Cathryn Gibbons Morrissey & Jim T Morrissey of Sneads Ferry, NC; Robert P. Gibbons & Nancy W Gibbons of Frederick, MD; and Tracey Gibbons Marini & Dante J Marini of Chadds Ford, PA. And blessed with 15 grandchildren and spouses, along with 12 great grandchildren
Thomas Gibbons, Jr. & Jennifer Gibbons
- Thomas III, Declan, Walker
Daniel Gibbons & Jennifer Gibbons
- Avery, Lilah
Sean Gibbons & Alison Gibbons
- Nora
Keegan Gibbons
Meaghan Gibbons
James Morrissey & Chelsie Morrissey
- Josie Rose, Nellie Cooper
Nick Morrissey & Daphne Morrissey
- Connor Junjie, Laurel Jielin
Abbi Morrissey & Cassie Belden
Katie Gibbons & Jack Kleman
Erin Ruppert & Zak Ruppert
- Sophia Mae
Nathaniel Gibbons
Zachary Gibbons
Dante Marini and Kaci Marini
- Maci James
- Lou Thomas
Jessie Marks & Sam Marks
Max Marini
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4:00pm on April 22nd, 2025, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA, followed by interment at Arlington National Cemetery at 11:00am on April 23rd. All of Scotty’s progeny will join in the celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, and to acknowledge the care they provided to Tom, donations via check (no available online giving) to Compassionate Care Hospice would be appreciated at: Amedisys Foundation, Compassionate Care Hospice, 3854 American Way, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Funeral arrangements by McCrery & Harra.
