Theodore John 'Ted' Habarth, 65

Theodore John "Ted" Habarth, 65, of Bigfork, died of a sudden heart attack at his home on Swan Lake on Friday, May 19, 2006. Ted was born in Detroit on Nov. 5, 1940, the second son of Gerald C. Habarth and Sophie E. Leipus.

Theodore, better known as Ted, was an educator, a humanitarian, a philanthropist and a visionary. Throughout his life he held close to three core values: sacrifice to others, hard work, and a belief in the fundamental goodness of all of humanity. In every sphere of his life, whether professional, social, religious or personal, these beliefs permeated his being and colored his every action.

He had one older brother, Roger C. Habarth. He grew up in Detroit amid a large extended family and was always remembered by relatives as an eternally happy and friendly child. The strong bonds of love and friendship that characterized his childhood were to become one of the hallmarks of his life. Then, as now, Ted was always known for bringing people together and creating unions. Indeed, he seemed to thrive on this.

He attended the University of Notre Dame and received a bachelor's degree in 1963. Later he moved to Chile to continue his studies, receiving a master's degree in theology in 1966 from the Catholic University in Santiago. Following graduation he obtained a position as the director of the North American Institute in the northern Chilean city of Antofagasta. It was also in that year that he met and fell in love with Ellen Biggs Vogel. He and Ellen were married Jan. 5, 1967, in Santiago and soon after they returned to the United States.

Ted's interest in philosophy, education and theology was inspired by a deep desire to bring positive change into the world. He once said that philosophy in the abstract was of limited value, and that it only obtained true meaning and significance when its ideals were striven for in the world and in society. Upon this foundation he began a professional life dedicated to advancing the betterment of society.

As an equal employment officer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland, he worked tirelessly to resolve conflicts and establish equal treatment within that community. Because of this important work as an advocate for equality, he was invited into the federal government to help develop affirmative action policy for the administration of President Jimmy Carter.

During his tenure at APL, he began numerous initiatives aimed at increasing access in education for under-represented and disenfranchised students, opening-up doors in both academia and the corporate world. In 1976, as the then-assistant to the director for Special Programs at APL, Ted founded the GEM program (The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering). GEM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting and encouraging minority students who wish to enter graduate school to pursue higher degrees in engineering and the natural sciences. Since its founding, GEM has graduated more than 2,500 students from many of this nation's top universities. He also created the Maryland MESA Program, a pre-college program supporting inner city youths wishing to pursue studies in mathematics, science or engineering.

Among his many awards was the Reginald H. Jones Distinguished Service Award given each year by the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Upon Ted's request, all of the money from this award was used to establish the Maryland MESA Scholarship Fund.

Another of his major initiatives was the Journey Program: an innovative, multimedia educational project combining television, video and the classroom. Aimed at providing motivational and career guidance to teenagers, the Journey Program received the prestigious Emmy Award in Education in 1993.

Upon retirement from APL, Ted and Ellen relocated to Bigfork, drawn there by the beauty of the landscape, the people, and their love of the outdoors. Again Ted soon became known for his kind and good-natured character, establishing numerous friendships within various Bigfork communities. As a strong supporter of the local Catholic Church, he was instrumental in raising funds for the construction of the new Pope John Paul II Church in Bigfork.

Ted was enormously creative and active in all aspects of life. Early in his career he took up painting and developed a highly personal and original body of art work. His creative energies however knew no boundaries of discipline or medium; his entire life was an engagement in the process of inventing, making and remaking. His recreational pursuits included woodworking, fishing, and above all gardening.

Ted also loved sports, and at one point tried out for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. He was a consummate baseball fan and loved the Detroit Tigers, no matter how poorly they performed.

Theodore Habarth was an eternal optimist and could always be counted on to shed a positive perspective on every issue. He was a great friend, and a peacemaker in the truest sense of the word; his jovial, benevolent and generous character brought light and warmth to all those who had the good fortune to know him. He was a loving and ever supportive father who gave everything he had to his wife and children. From his various educational initiatives to his advocacy for the disenfranchised, from the work he did for his church and other communities to the ever expanding garden surrounding his home, he continuously strove to shape the world around him and make it more beautiful. He will be dearly, sorely and forever missed by all.

Ted is survived by his wife, Ellen Habarth, of Bigfork; one daughter, Caroline Guizol, and husband, Marc, of Bigfork; three sons, Robert Vente and wife, Shawna, of Keller, Texas, Peter Vente and wife, Elizabeth, of Naples, Fla., and Gerald Habarth and wife, Alejandra, of Morgantown, W.Va., and 13 grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial for Theodore John Habarth will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, at Pope John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork, with Monsignor Donald Shea as celebrant. There will be a wake service with visitation at the church from 6 to 9 p.m. today, May 23.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Ted's family.