Obituary of Teddy Jensen

TEDDY (TED) JENSEN

November 6, 1935 – August 21, 2018

Ted, dear husband of Patricia (Tricia), nee Izard.  Predeceased by his parents Svend and Enid Jensen; and survived by his brother Ole of London, ON; nephews Todd and Erik Jensen; great-nephews Nicholas, Lars and Niels; and great-niece Erika.  Ted (often called Bear) was a great friend to the Izard brothers-in-law, Ian, Dick, Bruce, Angus and David; their spouses and 15 great-nephews and nieces.  He also leaves his cousins Jurgen, Gunner and Anna Lisa Nielsen in Denmark; and his wonderful second cousin Bjarke Nielsen of Munich who reunited the Danish and Canadian sides of the family in 2005 and kept in close touch.

Ted was born and educated in Copenhagen, and emigrated with his family at the age of 15 on the MS Erie.  This was not an easy experience as he was the only English-speaking member of the family.  Arriving by ship in New York and travelling by bus to Buffalo, he had to seek directions that would see the family on a bus to London where other Danish families had settled.  Irritated by the upheaval, and angered by the uncertainty that lay in store for him, his father instructed him to return to school or get a job.  He chose the latter and found work manually setting bowling pins.  The taste of work sent him back to school and onto Ryerson Institute of Technology to study Electronic Engineering.  He graduated in 1958 and went directly to work for Bell in Montreal.  He later earned a B.Sc. in Mathematics from Sir George Williams University to help advance his career.  For the last 20 years of his career, he managed Information Systems for the Ontario Ministry of Government Services and retired in 1996.

Ted and Tricia were married in 1983.  Both loved to travel, with most of their destinations overlooking pleasant waterfronts, whether in Canada, Cape Cod, California, Madiera, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the UK, France and many Caribbean Islands.  Ted loved his sports, especially bicycling, skiing, tennis, squash, and soccer.  In 1997, Ted’s sports career was affected by a tragic ski accident which left him with orthopedic challenges for the rest of his life.

Ted’s life was shortened by lung and prostate cancers, and by his continual battle with osteo-arthritis.  We are indebted to the support of Ted’s medical team including Dr. P. Barreca, Dr. J.P. Waddell, Dr. A. Bayley, physio Lindsay Kobus, and the wonderful doctors and nurses from the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care.  Ted was fortunate to have an outstanding PSW team who made it possible for him to live his final years at home.  Special thanks to Aida, Blossom, Susan, Hazel Ann, Marichu, Durlyne, Magdelena, Noemi, Rhea, and Franz.  We are also indebted to our friends, neighbours and family who kept in touch regularly.

He will always be remembered as a very proud Danish Canadian.  Both counties were near and dear to him.

The family invites you to a gathering in memory of Teddy on Tuesday, August 28^th at 1:00 p.m. in the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue).

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you remember Ted through the work of the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care.  Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.