TIMOTHY M. CURRY, MAJ, USMC
Timothy Curry '86
Lucky Bag
From the 1986 Lucky Bag:
Timothy M. Curry
Pine Hill, New Jersey
Tim bulldogged his way into USNA from some Pine Hill in New Jersey. When not punishing opponents on the wrestling mats, Tim adds life to parties. A qualified member of the Vagrant Elite Force, named Dino for his bulbous head he has done as many crazy things as any of us. Tim remember: riding the bull, shotgun races, Lauderdale, hot tubs, Jersey Shore, and Bruce. Not always on top of the academic hill Tim has done his best to excel at 2.0. Crazy choice of Marine Air, good as long as he and I don't crash in the skies. Even if we did it would be great to go with your best friend. Remember "We Were Born To Run" CJB
Timothy M. Curry
Pine Hill, New Jersey
Tim bulldogged his way into USNA from some Pine Hill in New Jersey. When not punishing opponents on the wrestling mats, Tim adds life to parties. A qualified member of the Vagrant Elite Force, named Dino for his bulbous head he has done as many crazy things as any of us. Tim remember: riding the bull, shotgun races, Lauderdale, hot tubs, Jersey Shore, and Bruce. Not always on top of the academic hill Tim has done his best to excel at 2.0. Crazy choice of Marine Air, good as long as he and I don't crash in the skies. Even if we did it would be great to go with your best friend. Remember "We Were Born To Run" CJB
Loss
Timothy was lost on March 10, 1999 when the F/A-18C Hornet he was piloting crashed in Alaska while on a training mission. He was a member of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 212, based in Japan.
Other Information
From The Daily Journal on March 12, 1999:
Searchers have found the wreckage of a Marine Corps jet that crashed in the Alaska Range, killing the pilot. The body of Maj. Timothy M. Curry, 35, of Richmond, Va was found nearby Thursday. His FA-18C Hornet fighter jet crashed Wednesday night north of 12,300-foot Mount Deborah, about 80 miles south of Fairbanks.
Curry was assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron at the Marine Corps Air Station at Iwakuni, Japan. He was in Alaska to participate in a training exercise.
A helicopter lifted the search team to examine the wreckage at an elevation of 6,800 feet. The search had been hampered by heavy snow, wind and low-lying clouds, Air Force Sgt. Angel Newman said. Curry was participating in Northern Edge, a joint military training exercise, when his plane was reported missing at Wednesday night.
From Philly.com on March 15, 1999:
South Jersey wrestling fans are mourning the death of one of the area's finest athletes.
Tim Curry, a 1982 graduate of Paul VI, died in a jet fighter crash in Alaska during a Marine Corps exercise early Thursday morning.
Curry, 35, flew in 40 combat missions in the Persian Gulf War and was a former Marine top-gun flight instructor.
In 1982, Curry was crowned the 188-pound state champion. He compiled a 95-11-2 record during his wrestling career, played quarterback on the Eagles' 11-0 championship team in 1981, and was the school's student body president. He was elected to the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1988.
"Tim was a very special person who you could see early on was destined for greatness," said Camden Catholic coach Gary Papa, who coached Curry at Paul VI. "It's like his father [Donald] said: Tim was the all-American kid."
Curry was Papa's first state champion at Paul VI and the backbone of a program that improved from 3-14 in his freshman season to a 17-2 mark and a state Parochial A title in 1982.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Tim graduated from Paul VI High School in 1982. He was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Most Athletic.” Activities: Honor Roll, NHS, Society of Distinguished American High School Students, Who’s Who, Spanish Honor Society, Football (quarterback), Wrestling, Pres. Of Student Council, Homeroom Rep., Math Club, Talent Show.
He was inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in November 1998.
Survivors were his wife, Karen Lynn, son Michael, 5, daughter Alexandra, 9; parents Donald and Marcella, two brothers Don Jr. and Brian, and a sister Denise.
From The Courier-Post, Camden, New Jersey on December 14, 1981:
As a master of the option he carried the ball 123 times for 867 yards for an average of seven yards per carry. He scored six touchdowns and passed for 10 others in completing 29 of 59 passes for 681 yards. He was chosen as a Brooks-Irvine Memorial Football Club scholar-athlete.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
From his high school yearbook
From his high school yearbook
From The Herald News on March 14, 1982
From the Courier Post on November 8, 1998
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
