Theodore L. Thomas

Theodore “Teddy” L. Thomas, 78, a longtime resident of Elmsford, passed away on Thursday, August 23, 2018. Teddy was born in Yonkers, NY on May 6, 1940 to Dorothy Hagans and Theodore Thomas. He was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and spent the summers in Tuckahoe with his grandparents. His step-father, Levelle Anderson, played a major role in his formative years. Teddy attended Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Sociology. He served in the U.S. Army from November 1962-November 1964, leaving as a First Lieutenant. In his early years as a social worker, Teddy was employed by the Westchester County Department of Social Services.  He decided to further pursue his education and attended Yeshiva University where he obtained his Master of Social Work. After obtaining his MSW, Teddy worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital as a psychiatric social worker, and then served as clinic administrator at the Mount Vernon Hospital Methadone Clinic. When he finally decided to hang up the social worker hat, Teddy began a career as a special agent with Northwestern Mutual Life and ended as a senior coordinator, network management with Aetna Health Plans of New York, Inc. While his formal work career may have ended, he stayed busy working as a part-time mail courier for the Elmsford Union Free School District and then as a parking enforcement officer for the village of Elmsford where no one was exempt from being given a ticket, not even his son! Teddy believed in public service and was a Constable with the Village of Elmsford, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He also served as an EMT with Elmsford Fire Company #1. Additionally, he served on the Elmsford Union Free School District as a Board of Education trustee from 2013-2017.  He was also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. One of the many passions Teddy will probably best be known for is his passion for running. In his younger years, he was a member of the Westchester Road Runners Club and informally known as the man who ran Route 119. You may not have known him but you knew of him. Teddy ran in excess of 20 marathons; Yonkers, New York City, Philadelphia, and Montreal to name a few and was ecstatic to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 1993. His overall best time was 3:14:36. Teddy is survived by his wife of 50 years, Judy Thomas, his daughter, Joy Thomas, his son, Christopher (Francine) Thomas, his two grandchildren, Michele and Ryan, and numerous extended family members. Teddy was predeceased by his son, Andrew. Visitation will be held at Hawthorne Funeral Home on Monday, August 27th from 4-8 PM. A service will be held on Tuesday, August 28th at 10 AM at Grace Baptist Church, 12 Orchard Ridge Road, Chappaqua, NY. Interment Mount Hope Cemetery, Hastings, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research would be greatly appreciated.