Gordon Wallace Thayer, PhD

Dr. Gordon Wallace Thayer, 85, of Morehead City, N.C., passed away on Friday, April 25, 2025, at his home with his family by his side.

There will be a Celebration of Life scheduled at a later date. Please refer to www.noebrooks.net for the details to come.

Gordon was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on February 28, 1940 to Gordon Oliver Thayer and Ann Campbell Thayer of Braintree, Massachusetts. Gordon was a lifelong academic. He went to school in Braintree, MA, with his primary education at Thayerlands and high school at Thayer Academy, where his father was Headmaster and mother taught music and choir. He received a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College where he met his future wife and the love of his life, Katharyn, two weeks after they both began classes. He earned his Master of Science degree in biology from Oberlin College, where he received a scholarship to Woods Hole Institute on Cape Cod for the summer of 1963. There he worked on the importance of microscopic marine algae (phytoplankton), a scientific area that became the subject of both his master's and PhD research projects. He earned his PhD in Zoology from North Carolina State University in 1969.

Gordon’s PhD research was conducted at the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency's laboratory on Pivers Island in Beaufort. While Gordon was completing his dissertation, he was hired by NOAA and continued his research there for the next 36 years, retiring in 2005. During his career, he served as Project Leader, Program Leader, Chief of the Research Division, and Deputy Director of the Laboratory, also publishing over 85 papers in peer-reviewed books and journals, with over 120 total publications. He was recognized with several awards including two United States Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Awards and the NOAA Distinguished Career Award for excellence in scientific research and scientific administration. He was internationally recognized as a world expert on seagrass ecology and its restoration. Gordon maintained partnerships with universities throughout his career, serving on graduate committees of numerous master's students and PhD candidates. He was an Adjunct Professor at North Carolina State University, and mentored graduate students from UNC Wilmington, the University of Virginia, and the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1990 he was asked to co-organize the NOAA Restoration Center centered in Silver Spring, MD, and served as its first Director and then as Science Coordinator for many years. During his career he conducted research along the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to Florida Bay, and internationally in Australia, Belize, and Saudi Arabia, the latter following the Kuwait Oil spill during the first Gulf War. Following his retirement from the Beaufort Laboratory in 2005, he was offered a contract position with NOAA as the Coordinator and Senior Scientist at the NOAA Kasitsna Bay Laboratory in Seldovia, Alaska. Jumping at the opportunity, Gordon and Kathy moved to Homer, AK, for 6 idyllic months. A quote from Gordon: “It's been a good run throughout my career at Beaufort; great people to work with and for, exciting and satisfying research, and I feel as though I contributed to science in a meaningful way.”

Gordon loved being with his wife and visiting their son, daughter, and grandchildren, whether it was during the summer at the beach, or boating, or family camping trips in the cold of November. He loved a gathering or social event. His family was the light of his life, and his first thoughts were always of and for them. He and Kathy were serious Geocachers, solving puzzles and searching out clues in locations throughout the Carolinas, as well as all around the US when they traveled. Traveling throughout our United States was one of his great passions. Others included being a lifetime golfer, as well as participating in his kids’ and grandkids’ activities such as scouts, soccer, and softball. He was also a big fan of live music. Community involvement was important to Gordon, which included being a Rotarian, a long-time parishioner of First Methodist Church, and a member of the Morehead City planning board.

Gordon was preceded in death by both parents, his sister Susann Thayer Smart, brother-in-law Ron, niece Cheryl, and sister-in-law Janet Flood. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Katharyn Mayes Thayer, their son Ronald Gordon Thayer and wife Kristen Dye (Kikki) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, and grandchildren Kyle, Jake, and Emmy; their daughter Megan Thayer Guard-Pikulik and husband Kenneth Charles (Ken) of Apex, NC, and grandchildren Jackson and McKenna; brother Bruce Campbell Thayer and wife Pamela Jenness of Mirror Lake, NH; sister-in-law Sharon Victoria Mayes of Largo, FL. He also leaves nieces Cadence Anne Proctor, Lisa Smart Hansen-Viglotti, and Victoria Elizabeth Flood, as well as four grand-nieces and nephews.

We want to extend our appreciation to all for your kind words and support during this difficult time. We are especially indebted to the compassionate and excellent care provided to our family by the staff of both Gentiva Hospice and Home Helpers of the Crystal Coast.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net. Memorial contributions may be made to First Methodist Church (900 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557) or Rotary Club of Morehead City (PO Box 1863, Morehead City, NC 28557).

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home of Morehead City, NC.