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Ted Graham passed away Monday, April 18, 2022, after a brave fight with cancer. He was with his children, his wife, and the love of many at the time of his passing.

Ted came to Florida from his hometown of Barnett, Vermont in 1970 to finish his degree in engineering at the University of South Florida.  He stayed in the Tampa Bay area with his wife, Karen and his two children, Cheryl, and Steven. In 1981 he made the permanent move to Palm Harbor to raise his family. It was here that he made wonderful relationships that he cherished for so many years.

Ted was first and foremost a family man. He loved and cherished all of his family and was happiest sharing his time with them in pursuit of various interests. He loved to garden and in particular plant trees. He enjoyed the outdoors and nature which led him to Virginia part-time in retirement. Here he shared his passion for the outdoors with family and especially his 3 grandchildren. He will be dearly missed.

The plans to remember and celebrate his life have not been decided yet, but will surely include a remembrance hike in the mountains. Donations to a favorite charity or program that helps improve our world would be an appreciated celebration of what he loved.

3 Comments

  • Imad Elchiti
    Posted May 1, 2022 at 1:56 pm

    To whom will be reading this message, let me first extend my deepest sorrow for the loss of Ted. I worked with Ted at KWA between the years of 2004 and 2008 and I have visited his home a couple of times during the weekend.

    Though I was among the many engineers that was trained by Ted, Ted to me was way much more than a boss. He was to me a mentor, someone I looked up too, and wished to become like. I have not talked to Ted for over a decade, but I don’t remember a week that had passed without me thinking of him. I was infatuated by his gentleness, his love for his wife (which many times he brought up during our casual conversations), his commitment to his family, his patience, kindness, and so many attributes. He was indeed one of a kind. I will always regret not reaching out to him throughout these years. I hope he knew how much I appreciated him in my life.

    Ted, wherever you are in his universe, I will miss you more than you would know, and I’ll continue to think of you as one of the greatest men I have met in my life. Peace be upon you!!!

  • Gareth Caldbeck
    Posted February 28, 2024 at 5:37 pm

    Unfortunately, I had no contact with Ted since graduation, so I’m not able to speak to the wonderful tribute contained in the previous comment.

    I did, however, know Teddy for four years in high school, and, knowing now (from the wonderful previous tribute of Imad Elchiti) the type of person Teddy became, I see that he became exactly the kind of man I would have predicted.

    While Teddy was at the Academy, he excelled in both academics and sports, especially football and the pole vault event in track and field (in which, I believe, he set a school record.)

    Everybody knew, loved, and admired Teddy Graham. And despite his excellence in everything he did, he was amazingly humble, friendly, and kind. He really was that rare person whom you never forgot, and always wished you had stayed in contact with. It sounds like he lived his life just like the Teddy Graham he was in high school. I consider myself very lucky to have shared 4 years with him.

  • Paul Powers
    Posted March 2, 2024 at 7:22 am

    I was sorry to hear of Ted’s passing almost two years ago. I was glad to hear about his life since we graduated from the Academy.

    Our friendship grew out of our common passion for pole vaulting in the spring of 1968. We were both friends and rivals as we learned with and from, competed against,, and encouraged each other in the art. I valued his friendship and liked Ted. He was a very special person.

    Even though I am late in learning of and responding to his passing, I want to send my condolences to his family. I wish I could have met Ted and all of you when I visited our son once per year in the Tampa area in 2018 – 2022. I also am glad I knew him as a friend in high school.

    I’m sorry

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