Edward 'Ted' Dean Walen

edward 'ted' walen
Edward 'Ted' Walen, age 93 passed away on December 1, 2015 in Hamden, CT. Born in Boston, MA on February 8, 1922 a son of the late Ernest Dean Walen and Blanch Boober Walen he spent his youth in Andover, Mass., where he attended Andover Prep School. His boyhood days were spent sailing on the Marietta (his father's sailboat) out of Gloucester and learning how to use a lathe with his dad. He always said that it was due to a math teacher he had at Andover who opened up his mind to math, and the fact that he was bright and could achieve great things. WWII interrupted his stay at Princeton; but he wed his sweetheart Barbara Gahm before he was shipped overseas, where he was a lieutenant on an air base in India-servicing planes as they flew over 'the Hump' to Asia. Coming home, Ted and Barbara quickly had Eric (Rick) who was followed by Peter and James (Jimmy). After Harvard Business School, Ted worked in the field of textiles in MA and in Brookneal, VA until the late 50s, when he and his family moved back up North. He started working in the chemical business- and worked for Exxon Mobil for 25+ years. Ted lost his wife Barbara in 1980 to cancer and was also predeceased by his sister Ann W. Carter and his brother Donald Walen. After retiring from Mobil, Ted concentrated on his second career as a Grass Roots Advocate for Southbury Training School, where his youngest son Jimmy has lived for most of his life. The school was being threatened to be shut down by the then-governor of CT and other folks who believed in group homes, etc. This threat has continued and Ted spent 30 years working with others to keep it open. They even let themselves be interviewed by 60 Minutes, which unfortunately supported the other side. Ted retired 2 years ago, receiving commendations from the Governor and the State for his years of service. Rick & Peter are now Jimmy's advocates. With his friend Susan, Ted campaigned his J24 Sailboat 'Tigress' up and down Long Island Sound-collecting his share of trophies and having a great time. Ted sailed into the late 90s before he 'retired from the sport.' Ted is still an emeritus member of the Milford Yacht Club. He has 5 grandchildren-Peter Dean, Barbaralyn, Crystal, Jenna, & Luke, 3 great-grandchildren-Sophia, Caroline, & Ezekiel, and 6 nieces & nephews. The Walen artistic abilities have been passed down from Ted's father Dean to Ted, and to Ted's sons, and to their offspring. Both Rick and Peter have degrees in art, Peter Dean is a master woodworker, Barbaralyn is a floral designer for events in Maine, Crystal is a textile/paper goods designer in LA, Jenna is a potter, and Luke is a photographer. One of Dean Walen's paintings is hanging in Ted's room. Friends may attend a Celebration of Ted's Life on January 9, 2016 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Whitney Center, 200 Leeder Hill Dr, Hamden. Interment will be private. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Southbury Training School Foundation Inc., Crawford Hall Southbury Traing School Route 172, Southbury, CT 06488-0901. For futher information on Ted or to send a condolence to his family please see: www.beecherandbennett.com

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  1. The Southbury Training School Foundation mourns the loss of our long-time friend and director Ted Walen. Ted was a devoted father to Jimmy and worked tirelessly In support of our foundation’s mission of support and enhancement of the lives of the clients of STS, especially our program providing services for those who have no family member to serve as guardian or advocate. He served on our board for many years and had the respect and admiration of all his colleagues. I regret that we did not learn of his passing until after the Memorial Celebration of his life. We are thankful for the opportunity of having known and worked with such a fine gentleman and friend. He will be greatly missed.


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