Col. Marshall W. Nay Jr., RET

Col. (Ret.) Marshall Wren Nay Jr. died at the age of 76 on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He is survived by his daughters Mary Alice Nay of Washington DC, Margaret (Meg) Bartmess of Helsinki, Finland; his son-in-law Jason Bartmess of Helsinki, Finland, his two granddaughters Chloe Bartmess and Ashby Bartmess both of Helsinki, Finland; and his brother Richard A. Nay of New Haven, Connecticut.

Marshall is preceded in death by his wife Judy A. Nay of Albuquerque, New Mexico, his daughter Laura Marie Nay, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, his sister Leslie Nay of Annandale, VA, his mother Hazel Smith Nay, of Annandale, VA and his father, (Navy Captain) Marshall Wren Nay Sr. of Annandale, VA.

Marshall was born on April 28, 1942 in Hyannis, Massachusetts to parents Hazel and Marshall. Marshall had a great passion for fish, as was evident in his many aquariums he kept and once had hoped of attaining a degree to become an ichthiologist. Instead he attended Virginia Tech, where he was a proud member of the Corps of Cadets and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree in 1963. He continued his education and went on to receive a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering (Structures) at Georgia Tech in 1964 and finally a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Environmental) from Virginia Tech in 1972.

Marshall Nay served on active duty as an Air Force Civil Engineering officer from 1963 to 1993. His career was split between base level operational tours (four tours as a Base Civil Engineer) and technology tours before he rose to prominent positions as a MAJCOM Deputy Chief of Staff and then the Air Staff. He culminated his career in the dual-hatted position as the Commander of the Air Force Engineering and Services Center (AFESC) to include the Air Force Civil Engineering Laboratory and 12 other geographically separated units (now designated as AFCEC) and as the Assistant DCS for Engineering Services at Headquarters United States Air Force. After his retirement from the United States Air Force at Tyndall AFB, Florida, Marshall moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where he then served with Smith Environmental Services for two years in the environmental compliance arena before switching to the aerospace defense industry. Here he served a second career, and rose to serve as one of the associate chief scientists of Northrop Grumman, retiring in December 2007. At this same time, he was appointed as a “founder” of the Air Force civil engineering functional community. He was active as a legacy member since. In the spring of 2008, he was recruited by URS, then AECom, where he served since. He received numerous awards and has been published in the Air Force Civil Engineer magazine.

Marshall was a brilliant man with a great passion for the Air Force. He had the great opportunity to be an instructor at The US Air Force Academy and was the Dean of the School of Civil Engineering for the Air Force. Marshall was a devoted and loving family man. He married Judy Nay in June 1964 and the couple had three daughters together, including Laura Marie whom they lost in infancy. Together Judy and Marshall shared a passion for the Air Force, travel, Walt Disney World and family. Marshall was a tremendous father, guiding his daughters in life with patience, kindness and humor. In his spare time Marshall would tend to his garden, his cars, his fish and his Siberian Huskies.  In the last decade of his life he perhaps achieved his most joyful title – that of grandfather, Papa. He took great pleasure in spending time with his granddaughters Chloe and Ashby and meeting them all over the world. He took it upon himself to share his love of Walt Disney with them and was successful at taking them to three different Disney Parks.

The passing of Marshall is a great loss to his friends, family, colleagues, the Nation and all the lives he touched.

Visitation will be held Sunday, December 30, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at FRENCH – Wyoming.  Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, 2306 Sijan Dr, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840, with interment to follow. The Mass will start at the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel and will immediately be followed by the internment. A reception will follow at Eisenhower Golf Club which is also on the Academy grounds