Theodore Joseph Fabik was born on March 13, 1910, at East St. Louis, Illinois, the son of Mr. Anthony J. and Mrs. Theresa Fabik who formerly were from Floral City, Florida. He was graduate from Blasdell High School, New York, in 1927, and took one year of pre-medical training at Canisius College in Buffalo.
He entered the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, with an appointment as cadet on September 6, 1929, and was graduated and commissioned an Ensign on May 16, 1932. Subsequently he advanced in rank as follows: Lieutenant (jg), May 16, 1935; Lieutenant, May 25, 1939; Lieut. Commander, June 15, 1942; Commander, December 1, 1943; Captain, August 26, 1952; Rear Admiral, July 1, 1961.
His earliest assignments included first a temporary stint aboard the Cutter Haida on the Bering Sea Patrol Force in Alaska, then a duty tour with the Cutter Itasca out of Honolulu from August 1932 to September 1935. While with the Itasca, he assisted in training Treasure Department personnel in the use of small arms, and in several opium seizures for the Narcotics Bureau. He also participated in the original colonization of the Pacific Equatorial Islands of Jarvis, Howland, and Baker in 1934 and 1935, which involved the transportation of Hawaiian natives and supplies aboard the cutter, and establishing weather stations on these islands.
He then served on North Atlantic patrol duty first aboard the Cutter Mojave then the Cutter Thetis, both of which were stationed in Boston. In June 1936, he was assigned engineering duties in connection with the construction and outfitting of the Cutter Samuel D. Ingham at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He became an engineering officer onboard when she was commissioned in September 1936 and stationed at Port Angeles, Washington.
From July 1938 to May 1940, he was assigned to the U.S. Navy Academy in Annapolis for a post graduate course in Marine Engineering (Design). This led to a Master of Science Degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June 1941. After receiving this award, he served as engineering officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Campbell which was stationed in Boston and escorting convoys of merchant ships in the North Atlantic.
From August 1942 to August 1944, during World War II, he worked in the office of the Navy Supervisor and Resident Inspection of Shipbuilding in New York City on the design and construction of a fleet of Coast Guard "Wind"-class heavy duty icebreakers and a fleet of 110-foot harbor tugs.
He next served first as engineer officer then as executive officer aboard the troop transport USS Gen. M.C. Meigs (AP-116) in both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns. While with this vessel he made five voyages transporting Brazilian troops to and from Italy for which he was awarded an Expeditionary Forces Medal from the Brazilian War ministry.
From April 1946 to September 1947, he was Chief, Naval Engineering Section, in the First Coast Guard District office in Boston, Mass. From there he transferred to the Coast Guard Academy as instructor in the sciences of Thermodynamics, Heat Energy Analysis, and Fluid Mechanics. While there he also accompanies the Cadet Practice Squadron aboard the training bark Eagle on the summer cruises of 1948, 1949, and 1950, acting as engineer officer on the first cruise and as executive officer during the other two.
From March 1952 to June 1954, he was first executive officer then commanding officer (Aug. 1952) of the Cutter Campbell which served out of New York City on North Atlantic ocean station weather patrol, plane guard and search and rescue. He then served for one year as Chief, Engineering Division at the Ninth Coast Guard District office in Cleveland, and in the same capacity at the Fourteenth District office in Honolulu from June 1955 to August 1958. At the time he became Assistant Engineer-in-Chief at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He held that post until June 1961, when designated Chief of Staff of the Fifth Coast Guard District with office in Portsmouth, Va.
By nomination of the President (July 18, 1961) and confirmation of the Senate, Captain Fabik was appointed to the permanent rank of Rear Admiral to rank from July 1, 1961. On August 28, 1961 he assumed the post of Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, with office in Miami. In addition to Florida, this district includes the States of South Carolina and Georgia and extends to Puerto Rico and other areas on the Caribbean frontier.
In August 1962, he was assigned as Chief, Officer of Engineering at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In July 1964, he assumed the post of Commander, 14th Coast Guard District, Honolulu, Hawaii. In February 1966, RADM Fabik became Commander, Western Area and 12th Coast Guard District, San Francisco. For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of his duties in these last two assignments, Rear Admiral Fabik was awarded the Legion of Merit. He retired July 1, 1967.
In addition to the Legion of Merit, RADM Fabik earned the following World War II campaign service medals and ribbons: American Defense with "A" device, American Area, European-African-Middle Eastern Area, Asiatic-Pacific Area, World War II Victory. He also has the Expert Rifle and Pistol Medals.
He has held memberships in the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the American Society of Naval Engineers, the Society of American Military Engineers, and the Dalhousie Masonic Lodge, and Newcomen Society.
His hobbies have been gardening, woodcraft, ivory carving. While in high school he earned letters in baseball, basketball, football, and track. While in college he was active in football, basketball and amateur boxing.
Family
On September 13, 1966, RADM Fabik, a widower, was married to the former Mrs. Betsy Christian M. of Alaeloa and Kaneohe, Hawaii, a graduate of St. Andrew's Pirory and who attended the Universities of Hawaii and of California. RADM Fabik has four children by his first marriage: Theresa, the wife of Edward R. Stearns, a branch chief at the Army Chemical Center, Edgewood, Md.; Elizabeth, David, and Deborah.
Other
RADM Fabik has been associated with the Boy Scout activities throughout his career. He became a member of the Aloha Council in Hawaii in Sept. 1964. He was a key figure in promoting and organizing the Special Interest Exploring program in the Oahu area.