Theodore "Ted" Smith, 87, resident of the Bridgeway Care Center in Hillsborough passed away Thursday evening, November 25, 2021. He is reunited in eternity with his wife of 64 years, Dolores Smith who passed away in May 2020. Ted is survived by his children Ted Smith, Tom Smith, David Smith and Linda Abey and their spouses Debbie, Diana and Leigh. Ted's joy were his grandchildren Casey and his wife Elizabeth, Mat, Jesse and wife Macauley, Nicky, James, Shane, James, Kenny, Christopher, Haleigh and Tyler. Ted was predeceased by his brothers John and Steve "Slim". Ted shared a special bond with his sister Mary and brothers Basil and Tim who all live in the area. Ted was born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania to parents Stephen and Susan Smith and attended Hanover High School. He played on the varsity football, baseball and basketball teams and was in the school play. He also excelled at blowing kisses during sporting events to his high school sweatheart/wife Dolores.
After graduating high school, Ted accepted a full football scholarship as a standout wide receiver to attend Kings College in Wilkes Barre where he played all four years and graduated in 1955 with an elementary education degree. He also was drafted to play professional baseball but chose college. He married Dolores and moved to Bound Brook, NJ where he started a job teaching in Bernardsville, NJ. They also lived several years in Manville raising four small children. Ted would drive several days a week after work to Seton Hall University where he would earn a Masters Degree in Education Administration and Principals certificate. Ted was named the first Principal of the brand new Woods Road Elementary school in Hillsborough in 1969 and the family moved to Camden Road in Hillsborough where they lived for nearly 50 years. In addition to being a principal, Ted also served for ten years as an officer and volunteer member of the Hillsborough Rescue Squad. He also spent two years as a principal at Triangle Elementary School and at the request of then Superintendent of Schools Bob Gulick, agreed to open the brand new Amsterdam Elementary School in the early 1990s. After retiring in 1994, Ted was appointed by the Somerset County Board of Commissioners to serve on the Somerset County Vo-Tech School Board of Directors which he did honorably for more than twenty years.
Besides showering his family with humor, love and support, Ted loved going to Philadelphia Eagles games with his brothers Tim and Basil starting in Franklin Field then Veterans Stadium and then Lincoln Financial Field, going to Hillsborough High School sporting events and watching any sport he could find on TV. What made him most happy was a phone call just to say "hi" or a drop in from family or friends like Joe Thompson, Tom Czerniakowski, Bob House, Bill Schwallenberg, John Getsy, Neil Van Cleef, Dick Koerner and so many other great ‘boro men, Later, Ted enjoyed doing word seek games, collecting and organizing coins, RV camping in Myrtle Beach with his family and Basil and Carol Smith and their family, Half Circle BBQ, Abes hot dogs, Hillsborough diner, going on cruises and overnight trips to Atlantic City and visiting his kids to see his grandkids. While a resident at Bridgeway Facility the past three years, he was known affectionately as "Teddy Bear", a nickname he loved.
Visiting hours will begin at 10am on Tuesday, November 30 and conclude at Noon with cherished memories shared by family and friends at the Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville. Entombment to follow at St. Bernard Mausoleum, Route 28, Bridgewater
After graduating high school, Ted accepted a full football scholarship as a standout wide receiver to attend Kings College in Wilkes Barre where he played all four years and graduated in 1955 with an elementary education degree. He also was drafted to play professional baseball but chose college. He married Dolores and moved to Bound Brook, NJ where he started a job teaching in Bernardsville, NJ. They also lived several years in Manville raising four small children. Ted would drive several days a week after work to Seton Hall University where he would earn a Masters Degree in Education Administration and Principals certificate. Ted was named the first Principal of the brand new Woods Road Elementary school in Hillsborough in 1969 and the family moved to Camden Road in Hillsborough where they lived for nearly 50 years. In addition to being a principal, Ted also served for ten years as an officer and volunteer member of the Hillsborough Rescue Squad. He also spent two years as a principal at Triangle Elementary School and at the request of then Superintendent of Schools Bob Gulick, agreed to open the brand new Amsterdam Elementary School in the early 1990s. After retiring in 1994, Ted was appointed by the Somerset County Board of Commissioners to serve on the Somerset County Vo-Tech School Board of Directors which he did honorably for more than twenty years.
Besides showering his family with humor, love and support, Ted loved going to Philadelphia Eagles games with his brothers Tim and Basil starting in Franklin Field then Veterans Stadium and then Lincoln Financial Field, going to Hillsborough High School sporting events and watching any sport he could find on TV. What made him most happy was a phone call just to say "hi" or a drop in from family or friends like Joe Thompson, Tom Czerniakowski, Bob House, Bill Schwallenberg, John Getsy, Neil Van Cleef, Dick Koerner and so many other great ‘boro men, Later, Ted enjoyed doing word seek games, collecting and organizing coins, RV camping in Myrtle Beach with his family and Basil and Carol Smith and their family, Half Circle BBQ, Abes hot dogs, Hillsborough diner, going on cruises and overnight trips to Atlantic City and visiting his kids to see his grandkids. While a resident at Bridgeway Facility the past three years, he was known affectionately as "Teddy Bear", a nickname he loved.
Visiting hours will begin at 10am on Tuesday, November 30 and conclude at Noon with cherished memories shared by family and friends at the Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville. Entombment to follow at St. Bernard Mausoleum, Route 28, Bridgewater