Thaddeus Frank "Ted" Zychowski

Thaddeus Frank (Ted) Zychowski of Williamsburg, Virginia, passed away on September 20, 2024, after a yearlong battle with leukemia. He was born on November 8, 1947, in Manhattan, New York, the son of the late Amelia and Frank Zychowski. Ted grew up in Brooklyn, New York and attended Abraham Lincoln High School, where he played football and earned many All City and Metropolitan honors. A football scholarship brought him to the College of William and Mary, where he played under Head Coach Marv Levy, and where he made many lifelong friends. During his time at William and Mary, he also met Cathy Coleman, who became his wife and best friend for 55 years. They were blessed with 2 children of whom he was extremely proud: daughter, Kelly Helberg (Mark) and son, Christopher. After graduating from William and Mary in 1969, he was commissioned in the Navy, via the ROC Program at the Officer's Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and then attended the Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia. Following his graduation in May 1970, he continued his Naval career for 23 years. His duty stations included Athens, Georgia; Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; Bainbridge, Maryland; Puerto Rico; Monterey and San Francisco, California; and Staten Island, New York. While stationed at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California he was awarded the Degree Master of Science in Information Systems. Ted retired from the Navy in 1992 as a Commander and as the Executive Officer of NCTAMS LANT in Norfolk, Virginia. After his retirement from the Navy, Ted and Cathy built their dream home in Williamsburg, Virginia. He continued his education at Old Dominion University and received a Master of Science in Education degree. This degree led Ted to a new career as a middle school math teacher, first in the Newport News School System and later in the upper school at Walsingham Academy. Ted enjoyed traveling with his wife and friends, playing handball, and golfing with his Wednesday lunch group. But, he mostly loved following the William and Mary football team, watching his 2 grandsons, Ryan and Justin Helberg, grow into wonderful young men, and spending time with his family. In addition to his wife, children, grandchildren and 3 granddogs, Ted is survived by his brother Frank (Camille), their daughters and their families of Staten Island, New York, and his cousins, John (Liz), Stanley, and Eddie Poreba, and their families. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Rod Coleman (Sue), and his family; his son-in-law's extended Helberg family; and many close friends and former football teammates.