Thaddeus Eugene MacKrell

Dr. Thaddeus E. MacKrell of Chesapeake, Virginia born on August 1, 1927 died peacefully with his children at his side on January 11, 2026. The beloved husband of Margaret Kneafsey MacKrell (Peggy), who predeceased him, and loving father of Margaret MacKrell Gaglione (Joe Sposato), Thaddeus (Anne Vanker), John (Katie Groves MacKrell) and Neil (Martha Nolan MacKrell) and wonderful papa to many but most importantly his 12 grandchildren Nolan, Jack, Liza, Grace, Flynn, Thad, Molly, Lily, Joseph, Marie, Brenna (Dominic) and Ryan (Autumn). He was treasured "Uncle Ted" to his many nieces and nephews. His beloved grandson Flynn predeceased him and who along with Peggy, welcomed him home.

Dr. MacKrell was the son of Mary McKeown MacKrell and James F. MacKrell and brother to James MacKrell and Alice MacKrell Landon

Thad, a native of Brooklyn, was a veteran of three services, Navy, Marine and Army. enlisting in the Navy at the age of 16. The pivotal moment came early when he was selected for officer candidate school but disqualified due to lacking a high school diploma, which sparked his lifelong emphasis on education. After his initial Navy tour, he spent a year in seminary discernment, then balanced work as an insurance agent with earning his Bachelor's at St. John's University, followed by a Master's and Doctorate of Education from New York University.

A lifelong educator, Thad first taught science at Wisdom Lane School in Levittown and after his Master's, became an assistant principal at Hastings on the Hudson High School. After completing his Doctorate, Dr. MacKrell became the principal at Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield Ct. In 1973 and for the next 17 years, Dr. MacKrell was the principal of Ward Melville High School, East Setauket New York.

During his tenure at Ward Melville, he coined the motto "Excellence in Education", which became the school's enduring mantra. He drove innovation, high expectations, and engagement that helped elevate the school to national recognition, including strong science research programs that produced numerous Westinghouse Science Talent Search finalists and semifinalists in the 1990s and beyond, as well as an U.S. Department of Education School of Excellence designation.

After retiring, Thad and his wife Peggy moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he continued to serve his new community as a founding board member of the St. Ignatius Loyola Academy-a tuition-free, Jesuit middle school for boys from low-income and underserved neighborhoods. He dedicated over a decade to this mission-driven institution, which continues today to prepare students for high school, college, and lives of service.

Dr. MacKrell's legacy lives on through the thousands of students impacted by his leadership at Ward Melville and most importantly with his children and grandchildren.

Wake services will be held at Bryant Funeral Home on 411 Old Town Road, on Wednesday January 28, 2026 from 4-8 pm with rosary and eulogy beginning at 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on 10:45 am at St. James RC Church, RT 25 A Setauket, NY on Thursday January 29, 2026. Burial will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Thad and Peggy MacKrell's name to St. Ignatius Loyola Academy 300 East Glittings Street Baltimore MD 21230.

Our family is very grateful for the care and support provided to Dad by Viva Memory Care and Trinity Hospice, Chesapeake Virginia.

Livestream Information:

https://vimeo.com/event/5681597?fl=so&fe=fs