Dr. Edward Wilhelm "Ted" Hard Jr.

1939 - 2021

Dr. Edward "Ted"
Wilhelm Hard, Jr

October 6, 1939 -
July 16, 2021

Dr. Hard passed away in Eureka, California, after a short battle with cancer and heart disease. Ted moved to Eureka in 2018 to work as the ER director at Saint Joseph Hospital. His wife, "Dr. Ellie," an alumna from Humboldt State University, retired from teaching at Sonoma State University that same year. Ted and Ellie quickly fell in love with the slow pace of life and natural beauty of Humboldt County and decided to make it their permanent home. Ted was born in Buffalo, NY to Molly and Edward Hard, Sr. Raised in Dallas, Texas, he attended Yale University, where he played fullback for their undefeated football team in 1960. He graduated from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1966. He completed residencies in Honolulu and Stanford and spent a few years as a flight surgeon for the US Navy. Dr. Hard served as an ER physician for over 50 years, a job he truly loved, and continued to practice up until last year. During his sabbatical to care for his health, he finished one of his many novels entitled The Hunt for Blackfoot Lion; it quickly became a bestseller on Amazon. Ted enjoyed photography and loved exploring new places around the world. Dr. Hard died at home, surrounded by his adult children; Leisa Cohen, Sara Alsop, Michael Hard and Sophie Hard, and his wife of 23 years, Dr. Ellie Galvez-Hard. He is also survived by his son Paul Alsop, wife Arron and 3-year-old granddaughter Evan Morgan, as well as Leisa's husband Gerald and their children Hannah, Ben and Liat, and his sister Gretchen Jones and her husband Stanley. A Celebration of Ted's life will be held at Eureka Faith Center on Thursday, August 12, at 11:00 am. Donations to the Eureka American Cancer Society or the Faith Center Bible Institute will be appreciated in lieu of flowers.