Obituary of Theodore M. Slabey

SLABEY, Theodore M. (Ted) Age 87, of Mansfield, PA, passed peacefully on Thursday, September 22, 2011, after a brief illness. Ted was born in 1924 in East Orange, NJ, and moved with his family to Duquesne, PA. He graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA, and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U. S. Navy. Ted served on active duty for over twenty years and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 1965. During World War II, Ted commanded an LST in the Pacific. He later wintered over during a year in Antarctica with the Seabees in Operation Deep Freeze, in support of the International Geophysical Year in 1957-1958. Ted was the Executive Officer on two destroyers. He was stationed at the Pentagon during the Bay of Pigs incident in 1961. After retiring from the Navy, Ted completed a Master of Science degree at Lehigh University. At Washington College in Chestertown, MD, he founded the Computer Science department, where he taught from 1969 to 1972. He then founded degree programs at Mansfield University in Computer Science and Business Administration. He taught at Mansfield from 1972 until his retirement in 1988. Ted had a lifelong curiosity and desire to learn. In retirement, he could frequently be seen on campus at Mansfield University, auditing courses in German, Spanish, Literature, History, and Linguistics. He continued to pursue many interests, particularly Naval history, up until the end of his life. Ted was predeceased by two daughters, Sharon L. Slabey and Alice C. Slabey; his parents, Andrew and Mary Slabey of Bethlehem, PA; his brother, Theofil Slabey of Bethlehem, PA; and his sister Doris Holets of Oxon Hill, MD. He leaves behind his wife, Mary L. Robinson-Slabey; seven daughters, Sara S. (John) Teeling of Mesa, AZ; Mary R. (Jacques) Bellairs of Wyomissing, PA; Margaretta Slabey of Broomall, PA; S. Hope (Rob) Stewart of Little River, TX; Patience A. Armstrong of Raleigh, NC; June T. Foster of Oakland, CA; and Robin L. (Jason) Glowatz of Mansfield, PA; and one son, Andrew P. (Penny) Slabey, of Concord, CA. He is survived by fifteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Emily Campbell of Jacksonville, FL; and Nancy Dean of Naples, FL. Family and friends are invited to call on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Jacquelyn A. Buckheit Funeral Chapel, Crematory & Monuments, PC, 637 South Main Street, Mansfield, PA. A private memorial service will be held with the Rev. Dr. Joseph F. McNamara officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory should be sent to the Animal Care Sanctuary of Wellsboro, PA on Route 6 (former SPCA location), phone 570-596-2200, the Mansfield Free Public Library, 71 North Main Street, Mansfield, PA 16933, or Laurel Hospice, 24 Walnut Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901. www.buckheitfcandcrematory.com