Thomas Ernst Bechert

Dr. Thomas Ernst Bechert, 91, died peacefully on March 4, 2023, in Annapolis, Maryland. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Bechert; children Katherine and husband Philip Strauss, Carol and husband Alan Carroll, Fred and wife Shelly Bechert, Susan and husband John Hunter; stepsons Michael and wife Scarlett Wirth, Wilhelm Wirth, and Douglas Wirth; sister Beverly and husband Scott Lett and sister-in-law Marilyn Bechert; 18 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his late wife Dorothy Almond Bechert; parents Fred and Emita Bechert; siblings Fred, Robert and June Bechert, James Bechert, and Nancy and Reid Cross. Tom is best remembered by his family and those who knew him as a man of integrity, kindness, wit, generosity, and consideration for the needs of others. He cherished not only his children and grandchildren but the whole extended family and followed all their pursuits with love and interest. Along with Marge, he was an active member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Annapolis and loved participating in the choir and in his men's covenant group. He also enjoyed singing in the Annapolis Chorale for many years. His many interests included crosswords, reading P. G. Wodehouse, travel, sailing, and playing the piano (especially the Moonlight Sonata, on his back, upside down). Tom was born in Stamford, Connecticut, on January 20, 1932. He graduated from Cornell University in 1954, married his high school sweetheart Dorothy, and served in the U. S. Navy for two years. He began his engineering career with Burroughs Corporation and then GE in Paoli, Pennsylvania. Tom earned his Ph.D. at Drexel University in 1970. He found great satisfaction in teaching at NYU, Virginia Tech, and VMI, and then working at the Defense Communications Agency in Virginia. After the death of his wife Dorothy in 1984, Tom was blessed to find new love and joy in his marriage with Marjorie in 1986. Together they moved to Annapolis, where he joined the faculty of the U.S. Naval Academy, teaching in the Weapons and Systems Engineering Department for over twenty years, retiring as Full Professor in 2006. He took great personal interest in his students' progress and career development. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, March 25, at 2 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, MD 21401. In lieu of flowers, friends may make a memorial donation to the church.