Obituary: Frederick "Ted" Rackett, of Orient, Dies at 99

Info via DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home

Frederick “Ted” Rackett, a longtime resident of Orient, passed away Sept. 9, 2015, at San Simeon by the Sound Nursing Home in Greenport. He was 99.

He was born June 25, 1916, in Orient to Frederick T. and Helen (Petty) Rackett.

Rackett was a very quiet, patient man and had the ability to fix just about anything, from cars to lawn mowers to antique clocks.

He has a passion for cars and he was an excellent mechanic.

His love of cars led him to buy and run the Orient Service Station, now the location of The Candy Man.

After he sold the service station, Rackett worked as a radio dispatcher for Southold Town Police Department, retiring after 28 years.

He was a 62-year member of Orient Fire Department, an active member of Orient United Methodist Church for many years and served on the board of the Orient Central Cemetery Association.

He was predeceased by his beloved son Frederick “Teddy” in 1957, his sister Alice Green and his brother, Malcolm “Mac.”

Rackett is survived by his wife of 75 years, Harriet (née Rogers); his son Robert J.; his sister Geraldine Mellas; his cousin, Joy Monahan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family received visitors Sept. 11 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, where a fireman’s service was also held.

Burial was private at the Orient Central Cemetery.