Theodore Havemeyer Bigelow

Theodore H. Bigelow (“Ted”) was born on February 3, 1931 at Doctors Hospital in New York City. He was the son of Carlotta Havemeyer Bigelow and Commander Anson Alexander Bigelow.

Ted was President of his senior class at Admiral Farragut Academy in New Jersey in 1949. His father was in the class of 1917 at Annapolis and he had high hopes that his son would follow in his footsteps. But Ted soon realized he didn’t want to follow his father, and he enrolled in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY, and was in the NROTC in college. He left college and the NROTC and joined the Navy, as the Korean Conflict was taking place. He served for four years, and was Honorably Discharged as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class.

Upon being discharged from the service, he worked in the Engineering Department of the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal as a draftsman. When the commute began to wear on him after eight years, he left and worked for Kem Manufacturing Company, Inc. in Fair Lawn, NJ as a Fuel Systems Engineer and Quality Control Manager for twenty-seven years. During this time, he met and married Anne Trezevant McKinney of Memphis, TN in 1969. They resided in Franklin Lakes, NJ for twenty-six years. Anne taught high school through the years, retiring in 1995. After they both retired, they moved to Fearrington Village, just south of Chapel Hill, NC and later moved to Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill.

In retirement, Ted continued competing in the sport of clay target shooting, mainly trap, which he enjoyed. In later years, Ted loved looking at and discussing books and magazines about airplanes, naming makes, models, engines and citing facts about each one. He adored his pets, loving all of their dogs and cats alike.

Ted was predeceased by his mother and father along with his sister, Sophie B. Quinn. He is survived by his wife, Anne McKinney Bigelow. He also leaves a daughter, Anne B. Hall of Fernly, NV; a grandson Paul Butterfield of Los Angeles, CA; several nieces - Ellen Quinn of Washington, DC, Louise Quinn of Santa Fe, NM, Emily Quinn of Boise, ID, Arabella Quinn of Dodgeville, WI and a nephew Peter Quinn of New York City.

Memorial donations may be made to: The Nature Conservancy (NC Chapter), 320 Blackwell Street, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27701; National Wildlife Federation, PO Box 1583, Merrifield, VA 22116-1583; or the charity of one’s choice.