Kenneth Fulbright Teasdale

1934 - 2023

Teasdale, Kenneth Fulbright

passed away on February 14th, 2023 surrounded by loved ones, in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri following a fifteen-year battle with dementia and related illnesses. He was 88.

Ken is survived by his former wife Elizabeth Langdon Teasdale of St. Louis, MO; his sister Suzanne Teasdale Zorn (Ted) of St. Louis, MO; his daughters Caroline Walker (Andrew) of Rye, NY and Cindy Teasdale of St. Louis, MO; his son Doug Teasdale (Jennifer) of St. Louis, MO; and his eight grandchildren Nate and Elliot Walker; Ava, Kate and Maren Teasdale; and Walter, Hal and Gus McGowan.

Ken was born on November 8th, 1934 in St. Louis, MO to his parents Kenneth Teasdale and Anna Fulbright Teasdale of St. Louis, MO. He attended John Burroughs School in St. Louis, MO graduating in 1952, and Amherst College, graduating in 1956. After completing the ROTC Army program and pursuing his love of adventure in the Caribbean, he attended Washington University School of Law, graduating first in his class in 1961. Ken was then appointed to the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice under the US Attorney General's Honors Program, and in 1962 became general counsel to the Democratic Policy Committee of the United States Senate. He also served as legal assistant to the Senate majority leader, where he wrote a large part of the Civil Rights Bill of 1964.

It was in Washington that Ken met the love of his life, Elizabeth Langdon; they wed in 1964, returning to St. Louis shortly thereafter, where Ken began working with his father at the law firm Armstrong Teasdale, eventually becoming Chairman. A proud and nearly lifelong Central West Ender, Ken was involved in numerous civic and charitable activities, including serving as director on the Board of Trustees of both the St. Louis Science Center and the St. Louis Art Museum, as well as serving as chairman of the Board of Regents at St. Louis University, among others.

A passionate and curious soul, Ken loved travel, music, art, theater, wine and history. He spent his vacations on the shores of Sanibel and Captiva Island in Southwest Florida, the muddy rivers of Missouri, the frigid depths of Lake Charlevoix in Northern Michigan, and the meandering waterways of Europe, which he loved to explore by barge with St. Louis friends. Ken was also an avid mouseketeer, making nearly annual trips to Disney World throughout the 70s, 80s and early 90s. He was inquisitive by nature and gave his undivided attention to whomever he chose to share time with, whether it was the waiter at a restaurant in the Fulbright ancestral home of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a docent at one of the hundreds of museums he frequented, or an unwitting table mate at many a dinner party, where he was often the last to leave. He truly loved being an attorney, as it allowed him to flex his incredible emotional intelligence muscles, and he kept a stuffed porcupine on his desk as a reminder never to take himself too seriously. Ken encouraged his children to explore their own passions, and was often abandoned by the rest of the family on pilgrimages to various museums, soaking up every last morsel he could while less patient loved ones retired for tea or moved on to the next museum or shopping destination.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers in Parkview Residence at Parc Provence.

Services: A Memorial Service will be conducted at the Church of St. Michael & St. George, 6345 Wydown at Ellenwood, Clayton on Friday, February 24, at 10:00 a.m. The family will receive friends in the Great Hall following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ken's honor to the St. Louis Art Museum or to John Burroughs School.

A SERVICE OF

THE LUPTON CHAPEL