Thomas Lavelle Quay

Thomas Lavelle Quay died at Blue Ridge Health Care on April 16 at age 97. He was born on August 23, 1914 in Mt. Holly, New Jersey, as the son of a railroad conductor. He earned a BS in 1938 from the University of Arkansas. He came to Raleigh for Graduate School in Zoology at NC State College in 1938. He went to the South Pacific as a Navy Lt. during WW-II, directing mosquito control efforts during “island hopping.” He returned to finish his PhD in Zoology in 1948 and joined the faculty to teach Ornithology until his retirement in 1980. In that 32-year career Dr. Quay directed 53 graduate students to their masters and doctorate degrees. He focused his field research on how birds adapted to their habitat. His legacy is in the life and successes of his students who he encouraged relentlessly toward becoming wildlife scientists. Emblematic of his life long efforts, he was inducted into the NC Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Hall of Fame. He had been active in the West Raleigh Presbyterian Church since it was a small college ministry.

His wife Violet died of bone cancer in 1983. He is survived by son Bert Wells Quay and daughter-in-law, Buford Quay, of New Bern, NC.

A memorial service celebrating his life is scheduled for 2pm on Friday April 20, at West Raleigh Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the T. L. Quay Wildlife Endowment at NCSU, Campus Box 7645, Raleigh NC 27695-7645.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary’s St. Raleigh.