Suffield Obituary: Theodore Tenerowicz, 77

Theodore C. Tenerowicz, 77, fondly known as “Teddy” to family and friends, passed away Monday, November 16, 2015 at Suffield by the River, Suffield.

He was born January 6, 1938 in the Thompsonville section of Enfield, where he also grew up. He was active in Scouting and the Explorer program. Based on records for leadership and character he was nominated and attended Nutmeg Boys State at UConn, and graduated from Enfield High School. Ted graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1959 where he was a member of the National Service Fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Shortly after graduation he went into the US Army, doing basic training at Ft. Dix, NJ, and served in the US Army Reserve for 6 years. He then had a short stint as a manager at Friendly Ice Cream Shops, and later moved on to New York City where he lived for 20 years and was employed by Crawford & Company and afterwards, opening his own insurance adjusting business in NYC.

He later moved back to the Vernon/Ellington area, where he again was employed as a supervisor at Crawford & Company in Glastonbury. During his youth, his primary hobby was building and flying model airplanes in the field behind the AD Higgins School. In his young adult years he enjoyed riding Bultaco and Triumph motorcycles, as well as photography (developing his own pictures in the days of 35mm film), hunting, and firearm collecting. While in New York, he continued his pursuit of photography, enjoyed hiking, belonging to the Appalachian Mountain Club, assisted in building a hiking trail in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, and also was a member of the Green Mountain Club in Harriman Park. Upon his return to CT he became a devoted lifetime member of the Rockville Fish & Game Club serving on the Board as the Director of Rifle & Pistol. Later he served as Competition Chairman and was an expert target shooter and organized the bowling pin shoots. He was also a member of the Shenipsit Striders.

Ted loved to hunt, making a “bucket list” trip to Alaska, and the many hunting trips with friends at Camp Orangutang in VT. He “shot” more pictures than anything else. He enjoyed reading about WWII, especially Pearl Harbor, had a natural curiosity and pursuit of family history, and also enjoyed tinkering with antique cars, especially his 1940 Chevy and 1956 Austin Healey.

Ted was predeceased by his mother Mary (Bigos) Tenerowicz in 1963, his father Theodore P. Tenerowicz in 1993. He is survived by his brother Don Tenerowicz of Ellington, his sister Claire (Tenerowicz) Ralph and brother-in-law Robert Ralph of The Villages, FL., an aunt, several cousins, and a special dear friend.

The family thanks Dr. Younus Masih as well as the staff at Suffield by The River for their concerns and compassionate care. The family also expresses their thanks and gratitude to all those that visited, helped, and provided emotional support to Ted through his health struggles over the past three years.

Relatives and friends may join the family on Friday, December 4, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Road, Enfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family Church, 23 Simon Road, Enfield (Please meet at church). Burial will follow in St. Patrick King Street Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Ted’s memory to Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association, PO Box 462, Suffield, CT, 06078 or Suffield Mini Bus Reserve Fund, 83 Mountain Rd., Suffield, CT, 06078.

For directions or to leave on-line expressions of sympathy please visit, www.leetestevens.com.