Stephen Richard Troy, 81, of Arnold, MD, lost his battle against cancer on November 18, 2023. The eldest of eight children, he was born on July 20, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Richmond Hill, Queens.

Troy was known for his brilliant mind and exceptional memory. While he approached life with the analytical mind of an engineer, he was a lover of history, classical music, and the arts. He found joy in tinkering, anything related to airplanes, and comedy. He played trombone and sousaphone. Always an innovator, Troy held 7 US patents.

He received a scholarship to Brooklyn Prep high school in Brooklyn, NY. During his high school years, he took delight in learning Latin and Ancient Greek. While still in high school, he was a Junior Engineer at the Columbia University Labs. He graduated from high school in 1960.

Troy then received a scholarship to attend Manhattan College, where he earned his Bachelors' degree in Electrical Engineering in 1964.

Having participated in ROTC in college, Troy was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1964. His first and favorite duty assignment was to Tyndall Air Force Base, where he ran a Special Devices Shop and was a Flight Test Engineer.

The Air Force then sent Troy to Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama to earn his Master's degree in Electrical Engineering.

While at Auburn, he met his wife, Patricia Humphreys (Troy), of Vestavia Hills, Alabama. They were married on June 14, 1969.

Troy was then stationed at Scott AFB, in Belleville, IL, where he performed sophisticated computerized analytical work for Military Airlift Command.

In 1971, Troy was stationed at Norton AFB in San Bernardino, CA. He oversaw various projects utilizing his analytical and problem-solving skills. His work included temporary duty in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

On December 7, 1971, Troy and his wife gave birth to their son, David Christopher Troy.

Between 1968 and 1996, Troy served as Reserve officer in Air Force Systems Command, with training at Andrews AFB in VA and Wright-Patterson AFB, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1976, Troy resigned his regular commission in the Air Force and accepted a job at ARINC in Annapolis, where he worked as a senior engineer on contracts for the Air Force and Navy. When he retired in 2008, he was an ISO9001 auditor and Technical Director.

Between 1976 and 1992 the family lived in Severna Forest, in Severna Park, moving to a waterfront home in Twin Harbors on Dividing Creek. Troy loved boating on the Magothy, most recently aboard the couple's Ranger tug.

Troy was a good environmental steward. He belonged to both the Severn River Association and the Magothy River Association. For years Troy did water sampling for the Magothy River Association.

Troy's contributions to the community were often behind the scenes. He was always by his wife Pat's side with her various community projects, including the founding of Chesapeake Academy, which is now part of Severn School. He contributed statistical analyses for the Anne Arundel Cancer Control Task Force.

The Troys have been subscribers for 47 years to Colonial Players, regular attendees at the Baltimore Symphony, and have, over the years, created a collection of original art by local artists.

Steve and Pat enjoyed traveling, including visits to all 50 states and multiple trips to Canada, Great Britain, Europe and the Caribbean. Their greatest adventure was a Christopher Columbus-related sailing trip in the Bahamas. Troy loved scuba diving, particularly off Grand Cayman.

He found great joy in using the internet to make a connection with the European side of his family, through his cousin Melitta Kessaris-Manowarda von Jana, of Athens, and her children, Olga and Michael, who reside in Austria.

Stephen Troy is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia Troy; their son David Christopher Troy and his wife, Jennifer Troy of Arnold; two grandchildren, Thomas Troy of Baltimore and Caroline Troy, currently in Bangalore, India on a Fulbright scholarship. He is also survived by siblings James Troy of Lopez Island, WA; Anna Marie Manowarda, of Binghamton, NY; Kathleen Jean Jacques of Brooklyn, NY; Yocheved Lavon of Jerusalem; nieces and nephews; and Troy  was preceded in death by his father, Victor G. Troy and mother, Martha B. Troy and siblings Mary Troy, Peter Troy, and Philip Troy.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, November 24, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Evangelist Church, 689 Ritchie Highway, in Severna Park, MD. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Livestream of the Funeral Mass: https://boxcast.tv/view/in-loving-memory---stephen-troy-ivvkidwrllhwga97j0pe

Donations may be made to The Oncology Foundation of Maryland/DC. Please see the link below.