I was sad to hear of Ted's passing.  He was always extremely supportive of me and my family and reading some of these other remembrances shows how consistently selfless and caring he was.  I think the last time I saw Ted was in Lake Tahoe in 2006, for my mum's wedding.  He was working on a project, the "Mirage Tandem", which is a Kayak that's pedalled like a bicycle.  His eyes twinkled with enthusiasm as he talked about it.  having such passion in life is difficult at any age but to sustain it the way Ted did throughout his life is an inspiration.  When I was 16 years old and just setting out on my journey to becoming a painter, Ted gave me one of the first art books that I ever owned- "How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist".  Inside the front cover he wrote:

"1996-
The future is in your hands.

Ted Bamberger" 

My heart goes out to Janet and Family.
 

I am one of Ted's daughters, and Ananda one of his sons-in-law. We and our son Ravi had gone up to visit Ted and Janet in San Francisco last year, and this is one of many photographs taken. It was a great visit!

To me, Ted was more of a cheerleader than the football coach he was to Joe. I had similar experiences where Ted helped me out of tough spots. I particularly remember how he encouraged me to follow my interests during a time when I wasn't doing much of anything except dragging myself to work and getting duller by the day. I had been taking a poetry class, and Ted offered to start coming along. He had  interest and some talent at writing witty rhymes but I think mostly he came to the class as moral support for me. He used to meet for dinner beforehand so that I started to look forward to the weekly sessions. I even started writing better poems, or at least, he told me so. He was a great friend to my family and me, and will  always be remembered fondly.

"Let's get together and strategize." That was Ted's immediate response some 12 years ago when I told him by phone that I had been laid off. That characteristic combination of concern and problem-solving optimism was enough to lift me out of my gloom. And strategize is exactly what we did days later over a restaurant meal--his emphatic treat--with Ted leaning forward, rarely taking eyes off me, and, as we identified each of my job-market strengths, nodding like a coach pumping up his quarterback for a tough but necessary play. Our meeting brought deja  vu to the sight, two years later, of Ted in restaurant conversation with the daughter of a college chum (Ted tended to hang on to old friends), offering guidance for her fledgling career as a singer/songwriter with the same leaning-forward intensity. And just as this businesman, who knew little about the writing field I was in, was able to come up with good strategies for me, I imagine he did the same for her. Ted loved to help and encourage, and, now that he's gone, I realize that my admiration for him has me doing a bit more of this myself. Thanks, Ted, not only for helping land a new job, but for making me a better person.             

It was a very solemn day for Prem and me having just learned of Ted's passing. I was fortunate to be a neighbor of Ted and Janet's at the St. Elizabeth, and even more fortunate the friendship flurished when he befriended Prem. My immediate reaction was feeling so sad I had not seen Ted recently while feeling a profound emptiness realizing I always felt the world was a better place because Ted was in it. What a wonderful man and friend who we will dearly miss.

Ted, I hope you knew how much Prem and I respected and admired you. You leave us with wonderful memories of our times together, none more precious then our favorite picture of you holding our daughter Danielle, just hours old. May you rest in peace and may your beloved family take solace knowing how much you meant to us too.

With love,
Judith, Prem and Dani