REYNOLDS
Ted
Ted , aged 61, passed away in Courtenay on December 28, 2008. He was predeceased by his father, Jack, his infant son, Jonathan, and his grandson, Sebastian. Ted is survived by Lee, his wife of 23 years, his daughters, Danette of Victoria and Molina (Jamison) of Bay City, Michigan, his mother, Laurette of Miramichi, NB, his brothers, Peter of Oshawa, and Chris (Sherry) of Calgary, and last but not least, his “kids”, greyhound dogs, Chas and Rika, and cat, Sweetpea.
Ted was raised in Plaster Rock on the Tobique River in NB. He grew up playing and excelling at sports especially baseball. He was pitching in men’s senior A baseball by the time he was 16 and was scouted by the Red Sox that year only to be told he was too small and to try again the following year. The following year, however, found him leaving Plaster Rock for Schefferville, Quebec, where he worked and played sports before enrolling in the Vocational College in St. Andrews, NB where he obtained his welding certificate and played sports.
In 1966, Ted headed west with a small contingent of fellow Plaster Rockers to Holberg where he went to work as a logger and played sports. There he found his calling. He quickly mastered every aspect of high-lead logging. His philosophy was that he went to work each day determined to get better at his job. And he did, claiming to be one of the lucky few who worked at what he loved.
Ted worked in the bush for the rest of his employed years, even while owning a grain farm in Spirit River, Alberta, where he learned to grow wheat and rape seed, to pray for rain and to make moonshine.
It was with great regret that he retired from logging in 2000 having become completely disillusioned by the industry’s appalling safety record and its disregard of professional standards for environmental stewardship and sustainability. He called the state of his once proud profession “The Crime of the Century”.
Ted never lost his passion for sports and fitness. He loved to practice his sports as much as he did to compete. He wore out fitness equipment including two rowing machines and a stairmaster. He celebrated each birthday by adding another push-up to his workout. At age 60 he could still row 5000 metres in 20 minutes, 16 seconds.
Ted was the quintessential sports fan. He especially loved the underdog. He rooted for the Red Sox despite their having spurned him as too small and reveled in their World Series victories. As often as he could and as recently as November, he cheered his “nephins” on the soccer pitch or the climbing gym.
Ted loved books and music. He had eclectic taste, reading everything from Stephen King to the classics and listening to everything from Little Richard to Beethoven. Occasionally he would get out his electric organ or his accordion to perform what always sounded like “House of the Rising Sun”.
Ted loved to entertain his family and friends by cooking for them. His signature dish was planked salmon. Anyone who enjoyed a taste of his smoked salmon declared it to be the best they had ever had.
Ted had a wonderful, self-deprecating sense of humour, a laugh like no other and the most charming Tobique accent that brought his name to mind even if the listener had forgotten his face.
Ted had legions of friends from coast to coast, from all walks of life, generation X’ers to golden agers, many of whom travelled great distances to honour him at his surprise 60th birthday party. Thank you all for your support.
If you would care to remember Ted with a donation, please contribute to the charity of your choice or to Greyhound Pets, Inc., PO Box 891, Woodinville, WA 98072.
There will be a service of remembrance in Plaster Rock, NB, in the spring. Ted will be going home.