Roll Call Tribute

Theodore Elias "Ted" Beckman, Jr., USN (Ret) 

August 29, 1937 - June 4, 2024 

Ted Beckman left his earthly home and family here in Connecticut to be with Our God in Heaven on June 4, 2024 at the age of 86. Born in August 1937 to Madeline Jones Beckman and Theodore E. Beckman, Sr. in Barberton, Ohio where he spent his childhood years before moving with his family to Paris, Texas in his teens. Ted graduated Paris High School in 1955 and attended Texas A&M University for a year before joining the U.S. Navy to pursue a career in the military.

Ted began the US Navy Boot Camp in Bainbridge, MD where he was proudly appointed Squadron Leader of his group a short time later. His next assignment was to the Naval Base in Lakehurst, NJ. During this time of his military career, he met the love of his life, Patricia McClelland, in Holly Oak, Delaware. They fell in love and were married in 1959 at Holy Rosary Church in Claymont, DE. They established their new residency in Lakehurst, NJ and started their beautiful family: David, Melinda (Lyn) and Mark. A while later the entire family moved to Ted’s new assignments in Fort Worth Texas and then to Alaska where Ted continued his Military Career with the U.S. Air Force stationed at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Moving back to Mainland U.S. in the mid 1960’s, the family established residency in Connecticut and moved to their new home in South Glastonbury in 1969. This house is still proudly considered the family homestead. Ted continued his enlistment in the U.S. Navy Active Reserves to complete a total of 22 years before retiring in 1997. His training in both Navy & Air Force allowed him to pursue his keen interest in Meteorology and predicting weather phenomena in the U.S. and globally. Once in CT, he was offered a position with United Technologies Research Center in East Hartford, CT. He retired after 25 years at UTRC working there in his second career field - Microelectronic Circuit Design and Layout.

Ted was predeceased by his parents Ted, Sr. and Madeline Beckman, and two of his brothers, Paul Beckman, formerly of Spring, Texas, and Tom Beckman and his wife Carole both formerly of Indialantic, FL. Ted’s surviving brother, Frank, and his wife Barbara currently reside in Wilmington, DE.

Ted leaves his wife of 65 years, Patricia (“his Pattie” as he affectionately referred to her) Beckman, his son David Beckman (Yunhee) of Laconia, NH, his daughter, Lyn Odell Rannou of East Hampton, CT, and his son, Mark Beckman (Renae) of Colorado Springs. He is also survived by his grandchildren LeighAnn Odell Friend (Michael) of Hanahan, SC, Hailey Paige Odell (Fiance’ Jeremy Back) of Summerville, SC, and Ryan and Katelyn Beckman of Colorado Springs; and his Great Grandchildren, Bennett G. Friend and Claire Elyse Friend of SC. Additionally, he leaves three nieces - Suzanne Beckman of Texas, Victoria Beckman Dwyer Wilson, and Lisa Beckman and four nephews, Scott Beckman (Susan) of NJ, Christopher Beckman of FL, Keith Beckman (Shelly) of TX and Richard Beckman (Michelle) of MA. Ted also affectionately leaves his Sister-in-Law, Debbie Bealer and her family in SC.

A funeral Mass in Ted’s memory, along with the blessing of the ashes will be held at St. Dunstan’s Catholic Church, 1345 Manchester Road in Glastonbury, CT on Monday, August 5th, 2024 at 11am followed by a reception and luncheon in the Church Hall. Ted’s ashes will be entombed in the family’s crypt at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Glastonbury, CT.