Theodore "Ted" Gardner - age: 81
(October 20, 1938 to October 05, 2020
)
Resident of
Saco, Maine
Visitation Information:
The family plans a celebration of Ted’s life in 2021 when it’s permitted for friend and family to gather without restrictions. Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home, Saco is respectfully handling the arrangements.
Obituary:
Saco - Theodore L. Gardner, 81, of Saco, passed peacefully at home with wife, Joyce and family by his side on October 5th. Ted was born in Sanford on October 20, 1938, son of Laurent and Muriel Gardner. He was raised in Springvale and graduated from Sanford High in 1957 and Bowdoin College in 1961.
Ted was a gifted athlete. He won 14 letters at Sanford and graduated as the all-time scorer in basketball and football. He was a two-time all-telegram league second baseman and twice named All State quarterback. He led Sanford to the 1956 State football title and set a single season scoring record with 150 points. He was an honorable mention All-American quarterback and received a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.
Ted returned home after one year with the Irish and married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Chadbourne. He attended Bowdoin College, where he lettered in football, baseball, and golf. He was a member of the 1960 State champion football team that defeated UMaine, the last small school to do so. Ted was a skilled golfer and longtime member of the Biddeford-Saco C.C. He was elected to the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ted was an educator/coach for 30 years at Thornton Academy and Biddeford High School. He coached football, baseball and softball and was head coach of the “Tigers” 1971 Class A State football champions. In retirement, Ted did exactly what he wanted.
He is survived by: His wife of 61 years, Joyce Chadbourne Gardner, twin sons; Craig Gardner of Waterboro and Scott Gardner and his wife Sharon of Dominica; daughters Tracy Gardner and her husband Duane Mumby of Golden, CO; and Susan Gardner of Saco; grandchildren Cecil Gardner, Lyza Posey, Brenna Gardner, Meriel Gardner, and Josephine Cooper; Great-grandchildren Evelynn, Emily and Barrett; Brother David Gardner and his wife Jean of Sanford, predeceased by his brother Dr. Thomas Gardner of Memphis, TN.
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