Thomas Patrick McGuire

Captain McGuire had a long and adventurous life. Growing up outside of Philadelphia, he built his first boat at the age of 10 to explore the marshes and creeks of the Delaware river, which led to a lifelong love of ships and the sea. After attending Archmere Academy and graduating from Villanova University he entered the U.S. Navy, where he really did “see the world”, exploring cultures and regions worldwide while based in Virginia Beach, VA since 1963. He served for over 30 years, seeing combat in Vietnam and commanding several ships and large establishments along the way. After retiring from the Navy, he worked several more years in the commercial maritime sector, eventually retiring completely to devote himself to sailing and exploring the East Coast with his wife, family, and friends as well as traveling extensively throughout the world.

Capt. McGuire was married for over 50 years to the former Judith M. Koonce of Philadelphia, who predeceased him in 2017. He is survived by his second wife, Dorothy Riley McGuire of Bryn Mawr, PA; sister, Margaret of Media, PA and brother, John of Newark, DE: two children, Jeanne M. Walter of Cary, NC and Thomas F. McGuire of Washington DC; as well as three grandsons and a great grandson.

A memorial service and burial will be at the Albert G. Horton Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, VA on April 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Symphonicity, a wonderful community orchestra in Virginia Beach that Capt. McGuire and his family have supported since its founding.