Mr. Theodore B. (Flanagan) Redman

Theodore B. Redman (ne' Theodore G. Flanagan) passed away August 22, 2017 at Mount Carmel Nursing home in Manchester, NH, after a long period of declining health. He was born in Boston, MA, in 1922 and attended Boston area schools through high school. Upon graduation in 1940, he enlisted in the Army (later Army Air Corps). Ted was active duty through all of WWII, beginning as a machine gunner and later serving in England, attached to a communications group near Gloucester. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant in November, 1945. Ted was reticent but proud of his military service, following in the footsteps of his father, Captain "Big Jim" Flanagan, a WWI veteran. He maintained ties with the military through lifetime membership in the VFW. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Ted went back to school after the war. He earned a professional art diploma from the Boston Museum School and a BS in Education from Tufts University (Class of 1950). His academic career continued throughout his lifetime as he continued taking post-graduate courses in subjects ranging from city planning to political communication. He remained intellectually engaged to the very end, following current events on the radio. But for most of his adult life, Ted was a dedicated teacher. For over 30 years, he taught all levels of students, from elementary (art) to college (drafting and engineering design) in New York State, Connecticut and Massachusetts. He was also, at various times, an art director in Lenox, MA, an arts and crafts supervisor for the city of Pittsfield, MA, and the art director for the town of East Lyme, CT. His last full-time position was chief instructor for the drafting department at ITT in Massachusetts. To supplement his teacher's salary, Ted moonlighted at all manner of jobs over the years, including town constable, bank custodian, freelance artist, yacht club steward and newspaper features writer. Ted also was involved in a number of civic groups, starting as a Boy Scout when he was a teen and as an adult becoming a Scoutmaster; and helped create or serve in a number of art groups, including the East Lyme Arts Council and Shoreline Art Group. Mr. Redman raised a large family in Niantic, Connecticut, with his former wife, Mary Louise Leydon, now deceased. They had seven children. The eldest son, Gregory Flanagan, predeceased Ted. His six surviving children and their spouses are: Paul and Kim Flanagan of Connecticut; James Flanagan of Connecticut; Susan Flanagan and Gary Cole of New Hampshire; Winifred Flanagan and Gene Cook of Colorado; Frank and Su Flanagan of Puerto Rico; and Bernard Flanagan of California. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Kate Flanagan and Brian Flanagan of Connecticut, Nate Cook of Colorado, Malika Flanagan of New York and Vanita Flanagan of Puerto Rico. Ted retired to his parents' cottage on Peaks Island, Maine, in the 1970s and remained there nearly 20 years where he was able to pursue his passions of art, writing, and collecting. He frequented thrift shops all over Portland searching out hidden treasures or yet another "nice sweater" (sweaters were another of his passions). He was also an animal lover and doted on his two poodles, Katie and Penny. Failing eyesight meant Ted had to give up driving, but for many years he traveled daily on the ferry back and forth from Portland, hauling all his groceries and provisions uphill in all kinds of weather. When his health started failing him, he moved into senior housing, first on the island, then the mainland. Despite poor eyesight , he remained fiercely independent and traveled alone, with his white cane, all over Portland, making daily stops at his favorite haunts: Coffee by Design and the church soup kitchen across the street (he loved homemade soups!). After a series of falls, however, Ted was persuaded to move into assisted living in New Hampshire near his eldest daughter, and finally to the nursing home where he peacefully succumbed to old age (95). He didn't quite make it to his 100th birthday—that had been his goal the last 10 years or so—but he did live to experience the great solar eclipse, passing away peacefully the next day. Ted was an inspiration to his kids and grandkids for many reasons: his strong work ethic, his intellectual curiosity, his eternal optimism, his good manners, and his love of life. Even when he was completely blind and an invalid, he never despaired and showed by example that we shouldn't either. Good-bye Ted/Dad/Granddad, you will be missed. (submitted by Susan Flanagan 8/24/17)