John E. Vajda

John Edward Vajda, (90), born March 16, 1931 in Hammond, Indiana passed away peacefully at home in Williamsburg, VA on April 20, 2021. He was preceded in death by Helen Vajda and Julius Vajda (parents), Margaret Vajda, Julius Vajda, Helen Vajda, Rose Marie Vajda (siblings) and Katherine Vajda (wife).

John grew up the son of Hungarian immigrants as one of 7 children in a small house in Capitol Heights, Maryland. He joined the Marines and received the National Defense Service Medal. Then he graduated first in his class from Mt Saint Mary's and the seminary and received his Master’s in Library Science at the University of Maryland. He met his first wife, Katherine, at the DC Public Library. They married in 1965 and had two daughters, Kathleen Marie and Karen Elizabeth. He spent a long career at the Naval Historical Center at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC. After the death of his wife, Katherine, he retired to Williamsburg, Virginia and embarked on a second career at the Law School Library at the College of William and Mary. He met and married his second wife, Tai, in 1995. They enjoyed living in historic Williamsburg with multiple beloved cats and visits from daughters and grand-children.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Tai; two children, Katy (Peter) Snow, Karen (Kevin) Riddle; four grandchildren, Molly Wharton, Legacee Wharton, Naomi Riddle and Helen Riddle; brother, Jimmy (Lynn) Vajda; sister, Gerri Lough; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Online condolences for the family may be shared at www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com.