Raymond Alexander (Rick) THAYER, former TFA Secretary-treasurer, was born 19 Aug 1922 in Boston, Suffolk, MA, the son of Raymond Alexander THAYER and Effa B. DILL. His last autumn day was in Boston, Massachusetts, when on 2 Oct 2004 Rick passed from this life to freedom from the long years of physical anguish from which he suffered. He was 82 years of age.
Rick served in the Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1945 and was a Sergeant for part of that time. He married first to Mary D. KELLY on 4 Mar 1944; they divorced. They were the parents of Richard Arthur and Janice Elizabeth THAYER. On 25 Aug 1962, Rick married Mavis Elizabeth STUDLEY. They were the parents of Jacqueline Anne and Todd Bates THAYER. He was the grandfather of Jamie Elizabeth and Craig Kenneth BLAKE.
Rick spent countless hours of service in the Thayer Families Association, but was modest in receiving recognition for his efforts. I first became acquainted with him in 1990, before the TFA was formally established. Together, Rick and I worked side by side - though on opposite sides of the country and through correspondence - in laying the groundwork for virtually all the issues facing the infant organization. In addition to the multiple functions performed that were necessary to get the association off the ground, we were also successful in determining the name of the organization; in proclaiming it to be a "surname," rather than a "lineage" organization; in establishing the Thayer Quarterly newsletter; and in building up the membership through contact with prospective members. Rick stepped in to help out at a critical time, and without his help, the organization would never have taken off the ground. I consider Rick to have been one of my closest of friends and it is a comfort to me to know that he knew I am dedicating Volume IV of the Thayer Genealogy to him. All Thayers are deeply indebted to him for his kind generosity and dedication to the Thayer Families Association.
Rick's great love in life was his family. He was also an avid musician and played the French horn in the Quincy Symphony and Boston Philharmonic for many years. As a lover of historic ships, Rick has built many impressive historic model ships. In 1999 alone, he built three masterpieces. He was a "Historic Ship Model Apprentice Shipwright," and was a member of the USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild of New England.
A little about his life and work: In Sept 1940 Rick left home and spent a short stay at his Aunt's home in Worcester, Massachusetts. In March 1941, he enlisted in the Army with an eye towards becoming a pilot. While there, he was drafted into a Drum & Bugle Corps at Maxwell Field, Alabama. The Army learned he had been the bugler for his Boy Scout Troop back home and assigned him to the Tyndall Field Florida Drum & Bugle Corps. Months later, a 120 piece Marching Band was formed at Maxwell Field, Alabama. Rick had hoped to become a trumpeter there, but he was too late. A friend of his suggested he try the French horn and Rick wasted no time in teaching himself to play and read music. It all came together when the formed bands were split up into three forty-piece bands. Rick was discharged from the Service in November 1945 but continued his love for music. In 1963 he played 34 seasons with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra. In 1968 he joined a second group, the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and played for them for 14 seasons. He also played in several marching and concert bands.
His career in architecture began in Feb 1952 when he received his Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the University of Florida, in Gainesville. In July 1965 he passed the Massachusetts State Board Exam in Architecture. In his impressive career, he designed many projects including 2 High Schools, hundreds of tract home developments in California, the Long Beach Memorial Hospital and several restaurants in Southern California. When his father passed away in January 1964, he returned to the Boston area to help the family.
His ship modeling hobby started early in his childhood when he built paper and balsa flying airplanes, and constructed model cars, all of which led him to ship models. His model expertise also played an important role as an architect. He built many models of projects to aid him in securing commissions from the clients. Of particular note, here are some of the models Rick has built since 1970. All models are displayed in their own simulated sea, a unique Styrofoam technique that Rick developed:
- The Thermopylae and the Cutty Sark, both clipper ships in diorama setting.
- The USS Constitution, sold to Raytheonís Bunker Hill Pavilion at the Navy Yard.
- The USS Constitution, donated to the Scituate Historic Society.
- The USS Constitution, in smaller scale for his wife, Mavis.
- The Yacht America, given to his daughter, Janice.
- The Wianno Sr. knockabout, a gaff-rigged sloop.
- The C. A. Thayer, (1999) a three-masted lumber schooner.
- The John Eliot Thayer, clipper ship (2002).
- The Columbia Rediviva (1999), sold to Brigadeer General, James Burdett Thayer
- The Columbia Rediviva & the Lady Washington in diorama setting (2002) to Patricia Thayer Muno.
- The USCG Barque Eagle, still in service; model owned by his daughter Janice Thayer.
- The Thomas W. Lawson, a seven-masted Lumber Schooner, the only ship built by Thomas A. Watson, assistant to Alexander Graham Bell. It is to be donated, along with a telephone, to the Braintree Historical Society for their Thomas A. Watson Gallery (formerly the Watson Branch of the Thayer Public Library) located in East Braintree and owned by the Braintree Historical Society.
Survivors include wife Mavis of North Quincy, Massachusetts; son, Richard Thayer of Florida; daughter, Janice Thayer (George Hague) of New Hampshire; daughter, Jackie Blake (Kenneth), and their children Jamie and Craig of New York; and son, Todd Thayer (Debra) of Massachusetts; brother, Jay Thayer (Julia) of California; countless friends and loved ones who will miss him greatly. Funeral services were held Saturday 9 October at the Deware Funeral Home in Quincy. His wish was for disposal by cremation with the ashes to be scattered over Quincy Bay.
Rick's lineage is as follows: Raymond Alexander "Rick"11, (Raymond Alexander10, Justin Worden9, William Howe8, William Sturgis7, Gideon6-5-4, Cornelius3, Richard2-1) THAYER.
The family asks that donations may be made in Rick's name to:
Caritas Good Samaritan Hospice of Norwood, MA
3 Edgewater Dr.
Norwood, MA 02062
Condolences may be extended to the Thayer family at:
39 Newbury Ave. #1
North Quincy, MA 02171-1601
Submitted by, Patricia Thayer Muno, TFA Historian/ Genealogist.