Major Theodore Dobias was in charge of NYMA's Company F.    When in Company F, I also worked in NYMA's Mess Hall to defray the school's tuition costs.    Such work would interfere with regular non-com. duties, so Maj. Dobias invented a rank for me, entitled Sgt. Librarian.   My duties were to organize and maintain order in the Company F library adjacent to his office.    I stood outside formation during Company drills, a special sort of privilege.

A student (H.W.) borrowed my baseball glove without permission,  while in Company F.  I beat him up, thinking he was trying to steal it.   Maj. Dobias called a company meeting and made me box several students, all of whom I beat.   He then told be that the next time I hit someone, he'd make me box a much bigger, and very tough Korean War orphan (C.C.).     I dared not pick another fight, and what's more, I liked C.C.

Maj. Dobias was a Wizard of Oz sort, and I mean that in a respectful and positive light.    There was far more to him than what meets the eye.

I was in Company G for three years during the years Donald Trump (DT) was there.   I knew DT and he seemed a very nice, polite guy during those years.    He'd surely remember me well.

I owe much of the person that I am today to "Maj."  He encouraged me to reach beyond what I thought was possible for me ever to achieve.  My life has been forever the better for having him as my "Tac", mentor, and friend.  I am so sorry that I cannot be there for Col. Dobias' Mass at St. Thomas.  I have to be in Texas for family business.  However, I am so pleased that he is having a Mass at St. Thomas of Canterbury.  In my parish, "Maj" has been and will be remembered at Mass.  My prayers go out to Shirley, Linda and Ted.

Father Russell A. Griffin, SSC '76

SPENT MY FIRST TWO YEARS IN F CO.

MAJ WOULD HAVE US ASSEMBLED IN THE LOBBY OF WRIGHT HALL AND ADDRESS US FROM THE STAIRS. ON THE WALLS WERE "ITS NOT IF YOU WON OR LOST, BUT HOW YOU PLAYED THE GAME" AND "WINNING ISNT EVERYTHING, ITS THE ONLY THING".  THERE WAS THE DREADED PADDLE...... USED WHEN NEEDED TO TEACH A LESSON YOU NEVER FORGOT. HE TAUGHT RIGHT FROM WRONG AND HOW TO LEAD OTHERS. THE MAJ WAS NYMA AND NYMA WAS THE MAJ.

In 1983 my coach and Mentor, recruited me to New York Military Academy. This experience change the course of my life. I want to thank the good Lord for allowing Colonel Theodore Dobias for crossing my path and being one of the great influences on my life.

You taught us how to be a champion, and we had the perfect season and won the Western Sullivan League JV football championship, by going undefeated 8-0

Tojour Pret ( always be ready)

God Bless You Coach Dobias

One of the things I remember most about The Maj. was that he never called us boys or kids or students...he always called us men. Any formation would always start with him grunting something like "All right, form-up men!" or "Form up your men, squad leaders".

Under his example, we were expected to act like men, therefore we became men.

Doby is NYMA.

I was an officer in Company F (Wright Hall). Being somewhat away from the main barracks we cadet officers would sometimes stay up after taps, call in an order from the Villa Pinessi  and chow down on delicious meatball sandwiches while watching forbidden TV.

Never had any problems because I think we were considered first class care takers for the 7th and 8th graders billeted there. We were 16, 17, 18 year olds taking care of 12-13 year olds...... So we took advantage....

One night "Major" Dobias walked in on us. We were trapped and could think of nothing else but to offer him one of our sandwiches.

He was downright cheerful about it. Ate the sandwich, talked to us for a while and left.....Big, Big relief!

Next morning we found that we all had been "soaked" (placed on report) for the gross violation of rules we committed.

Nobody got busted, but we heard about it all right....what was worse was that "Wright Hall" had its own "commandant" who was out that night and did not appreciate us going behind his back much less having another officer nail us....so we suffered....temporarily.

In a few weeks or less, we were ordering sandwiches again and watching TV.....I guess nowadays educators would be glad to have "problem' children like we were.

Best Wishes, prayers and good thoughts from:

Marcus W. Muth, Class of 1958