Thomas Jay

Thomas Ryan Jay was born September 4th, 1940 in Harrisburg, PA., and passed away on October 13th, 2021. A 1958 graduate of St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, Tom was a member of the inaugural class of IDP – now known as the Honors College at the University of Houston.

Tom married Rebecca (Becky) Sue Streeter in 1963, the opening act of an amazing 58 year run. Tom was hired by founding Headmaster Alan Lake Chidsey to teach Mathematics at St. John’s School in the fall of 1963. During Tom’s 34 years at St. John’s, his resume included teaching Upper School Mathematics, introducing the Computer Science program, producing Upper School Theater, and as Chairman of the Fine Arts Department and School Registrar. After retiring from St. John’s School in 1997, Tom began a second career in education, teaching Mathematics at Houston Community College, retiring in August of 2021. Tom’s activities outside of his storied education career included supporting St. John’s Athletics as Scoreboard/Clock Operator and fan for numerous Sports, Scoreboard Operator and Game Statistician for Rice University Football, Basketball, Baseball and Volleyball (57 consecutive years of Rice Football, hailed as a collegiate record), and from 1958 to 2021, a faithful member of the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Senior Choir. Tom enjoyed the virtues of researching and cataloging the family genealogy, contributing many names and pictures to Ancestry.com. Together, Tom and Becky spent many a summer vacation researching the Family Tree on what was lovingly called their “Cemetery Tour.”

Tom was preceded in death by his parents John and Anne Jay. He is survived by his wife Becky, children David Jay (wife Kelly) and Lisa Burgess (husband Jay), brother John Jay (wife Tammy) of Atlanta, sister-in law Patricia Streeter, grandchildren Ryan Burgess, Courtney Bolin, Taylor Evans and great-grandchildren Cameron Bolin and Daxton Evans, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service honoring Tom’s life will be held Saturday October 30th at 11:00 am at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 3816 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77025 with a reception to follow in Hauser Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances to either of the institutions where Tom reached so many, St. John’s School Fine Arts Department 2401 Claremont Lane Houston, TX 77019 or St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 3816 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77025.