Longtime Enfield Teacher, Coach, Hall Of Famer Bill Teed Dies

ENFIELD, CT — Bill Teed, who taught physical education and coached in Enfield for nearly 40 years while concurrently winning a World Series ring as a scout for the Baltimore Orioles, died Sept. 6 at his home. He was 91.

Following high school, Teed signed with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball club in 1949. He played two years in the farm system of the Boston Braves, hitting .321 in 1950 with Owensboro of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League and .298 with Wellsville of the Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League the following season. His career was interrupted by military service, serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After the war, he briefly returned to pro ball in Wellsville in 1955, finishing with a career .288 batting average, but soon enrolled at Springfield College, from where he graduated in 1958.

Teed began his lengthy teaching career in Enfield, and was chosen to start a physical education program at Hazardville Memorial School. He retired in 1995 after teaching at every elementary and junior high school in town, and also coached high school wrestling, soccer, basketball, swimming and baseball during his tenure.

Lenny Shortz, who played for the Raiders under Teed and later coached alongside him, said, "I met Bill as a freshman at Enfield playing football. He asked me if I was interested in playing soccer. Never played, didn't know anything about the game. I learned quickly if you played with a lot of heart and gave 100 percent, you could play for Bill. We didn't always have the most talented teams, but Bill always got the best out of his players. I did my student teaching at the elementary level with Bill. I could see the enjoyment and pleasure he got teaching and developing the young students - important traits that I carried with me throughout my teaching career. As an assistant coach for Bill for three years, he taught me how to work with kids at the high school level - work them hard, be fair and treat them with respect. Bill played a very important part in my coaching and teaching career. I was so luck y to have him as a coach, student teacher and good friend, and will miss him greatly."

"Bill Teed was a special educator who was kind and caring to all his students," Enfield mayor and retired teacher Bob Cressotti said. "He had a way of teaching students with disabilities, showing them how to reach their potential, always accentuating the positive. Bill was my coaching mentor in both baseball and soccer when I began teaching in Enfield. He had such great knowledge in both sports. As many know, he was a scout for the San Francisco Giants, but what is not known is that he scouted me, and being critiqued by Bill is something that I will never forget. Many of our mentoring sessions were lunches that I greatly enjoyed, even though I never got a word in. Bill’s love for his family was always evident, and I will miss all things about Bill - what he has done for many in both athletics and education, and his love for family and friends."

Ted Plamondon, who taught alongside Teed at John F. Kennedy Middle School, said, "I had the pleasure of working alongside Bill for many years. Bill was always the consummate professional and truly enjoyed sharing his love of athletics, especially soccer and baseball, with his students. Over the years, Bill and I shared an office and countless laughs. He had an incredible sense of humor. Bill was a true gem, and he will be missed by all his former colleagues and students."

"Bill was a legend," Enfield Athletic Hall of Famer Bob Bromage said. "I never heard Bill say a bad word about anyone. [My wife] Cookie had the good fortune her first year teaching with two of Enfield's legends, Bob Keller and Bill. [His sons] Mark, David and Billy were very good athletes and I never heard Bill say anything about their coaches, other than what his own kids should have done. His speeches to his soccer teams were legendary. I had the pleasure of working with Bill coaching basketball. He was a proponent of the underhand foul shot. He gave me gm baseballs to try and I would freeze them so they wouldn't go so far. Bill always had a happy word to say and was always complimentary of others' successes and accomplishments. He had great baseball stories, and I am sure that Bill and his brother Dick [also a former pro ballplayer and scout] will be once again scouting together."

In addition to his teaching and coaching career, Teed was a major league baseball scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles from 1970 to 1993. He earned a World Series ring with the Orioles' championship team in 1983, and also was awarded an American League championship ring with them in 1979. He was a scout for the Giants during the unforgettable 1989 season, the year the Bay Area World Series between San Francisco and the Oakland Athletics was interrupted for 10 days by a major earthquake just prior to Game 3.

He signed a number of talented ballplayers during his scouting career, including 1987 first-round draft pick Mike Remlinger of Dartmouth College, who appeared in 639 big league games in his 14-year career and pitched in the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee.

Teed was elected to the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.

"Bill Teed embodied the Hall of Fame with all of his actions on and off the field," chairman Mike Cotnoir said. "He was not only was a great athlete, coach and scout - he was a fantastic role model and teacher to so many of Enfield’s kids. His calm, simple demeanor was always very soft-spoken and carried a wonderful teaching/history lesson. I know the community is deeply saddened by his loss, as he holds many records, including the longest acceptance speech at an Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony ... 19 minutes! When he talked, people were mesmerized and listened. He injected humor with his leadership, and made it fun. He was always at the inductions to celebrate his peers, and beamed with love and humility. He was especially proud of all of his students, athletes and MLB recruits. His best prize was always his family, as they were his pride and joy. We know his World Series scouting accomplishments were not without family sacrifices. Losing legends like Bill is difficult for all who he touched. We are comforted that he lived a long life, and blessed so many people. RIP Mr. Teed. You did well, and changed the world. You made it a better place, and shared so much knowledge and talent. Most importantly, you made us smile and believe in ourselves."

Tony Conte, a soccer standout at Enfield and a 2011 Hall of Fame honoree, said, "Mr. Teed was a great soccer coach and mentor who was way ahead of the curve, embracing the sport decades before it became popular."

Teed is survived by his wife Carol, five children, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Calling hours are slated for Sunday, Sept. 18 from 3-6 p.m. at Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East St. N., Suffield. A memorial service will take place Monday, Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. at Red Oak Church, 337 Piper Rd., West Springfield, Mass.

His complete obituary from Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home may be viewed here.