GoFundMe For Longtime EHHS Band Volunteer Who Lost Home In Fire

EAST HAVEN, CT —A Thompson Street house fire Tuesday night displaced a family well known to many in East Haven, and statewide.

Now, a GoFundMe appeal hopes to raise money to help the Teddy and Claudia Furman family.

"Everyone knows Teddy. The man, the myth, the legend," writes Katie Trainer in the GoFundMe fundraiser to help the family after they "lost their home to a fire."

"As a volunteer staff member for our HS marching band since 2014, Ted has become a mentor, inspiration, support, and friend to so, so many. He dedicates endless hours helping those he cares for and doing what's best for everyone, and never once asks for anything in return,"Trainer wrote on GoFundMe.

As an alumnus of The CT Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corp, she wrote, "Teddy's known by so many as the contrabass player with too many stories to remember. I think everyone can agree on one thing, Ted's a great person who will do anything to help in any way he can (including driving to New Jersey to retrieve the forgotten set of tools from a coach bus parking lot)."

And the near-century old Connecticut Hurricanes Drum Corps posted to Facebook, sharing the GoFundMe appeal.

"Teddy as a Hurricane Hall of Famer playing the contra, a drill instructor and a volunteer and Claudia was a soprano player with the Hurricanes, and continues to perform with CT Alumni Sr. Drum and Bugle Corps."

Trainer wrote: "He's the only person I know who can wear a red tracksuit to be both Santa Claus at a holiday party, and a formal guest at a wedding."

"And we've all surely seen him practicing tuba in his garage. He's truly the whole package-- but you already knew that," Trainer wrote.

Created Wednesday, the GoFundMe has — as of Thursday morning —raised more than $2,000 of its $5,000 goal.

"Now, it's our turn to show Ted some love. A house fire won't stand in the way of this incredible person and his family," Trainer wrote. "Let's give him all the support we can."

East Haven Fire Department Chief Matt Marcarelli told Patch the fire started in the basement of the home and spread to the first floor. He said there was "extensive damage due to smoke, firefighting and the efforts to extinguish the fire."