B. Theodore Ward

B. Theodore Ward

Durham- B. Theodore “Ted” Ward, 72, of Packers Falls Road, died from glioma on July 9, 2014 at Hyder Family Hospice House, in Dover.

He was born May 27, 1942 in Hampton, Va., the son of Harold and the late Virginia (White) Ward. In 1957, at age 15 his family relocated from Brooklyn, NY, to Lee where he spent his formative years. He has resided in Durham for many years.

He graduated from Oyster River High School in the Class of 1960, and attended the University of New Hampshire majoring in Theatre Arts.

Ted was honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps Reserves in 1968 as a Lance Corporal, Mortarman.

He was a founding member of the “Theatre by the Sea” in Portsmouth. There he participated in the construction of, performance in, and technical theatre.

From that background he began a career in Public Television at WENH-TV Channel 11 in Durham. He eventually rose to the position of “Assistant Program Manager” for both the NH Public Television and Eastern Educational Networks.

Later, he found a new vocation, steelwork.For more than 10 years he specialized in erecting “Butler” buildings all over New England.

Eventually he decided that being cold and wet for half the year was no longer the rewarding experience it once was. Employment was secured in the “Special Collections” Department at Dimond Library at the University of NH.

Several years after he was hired the department had outgrown its footprint. His supervisor mentioned that a new facility was needed, but the funds for its design and execution were unavailable. With that Ted designed the new “Special Collections” storage facility on Concord Rd. which he subsequently managed.

A voracious reader, he also enjoyed canoeing, fishing, Theatre, Dance, Jazz and Classical music.

Ted is survived by his father, Harold E. Ward of Lee; a daughter, Anne Ward-Masterson and her husband Kevin Masterson of Eagle River, Alaska; a son, Jeremy M. Ward and his wife Jennifer Chu of Watertown, MA; his ex-wife Judith Ward of Durham, 3 Grandchildren, five nieces and nephew; three siblings, Michael C. Ward of Exeter, Linda Fox of Portsmouth, Virginia, and Harriet Ward of Exeter. He was predeceased by his mother, Virginia and his brother Bruce.

Contributions in his name can be made to your local library or to cancer research.