Robert Martin Teed

Robert Martin Teed, husband, father, grandfather, social worker, fierce lover and protector of Mother Earth, lover of books, history, cats, Charlie Brown and Snoopy, jokes, and classical and jazz music, made his transition on the ides of March, March 15, 2022, with his daughters at his side.

He was born April 5, 1934 to Clarence and Mildred Teed in Pontiac Michigan, and grew up in Pontiac and Birmingham, Michigan with his parents and his older sister, Patricia. As a teen, he discovered his love of photography, a pastime he enjoyed well into his senior years. He attended Hillsdale College and Wayne State University, where he earned his Masters’ Degree in Education. In his twenties, Bob traveled extensively in Europe. In 1957 he took his bicycle and cycled all over Europe, staying in youth hostels.

Robert met his beautiful wife, Arlene at the First Unitarian Universalist Church; she was taking a dance class there, he was in the Red Door Players drama group. It was love at first sight, and in 1962, less than a year later, they were married. Their first apartment together was in the Cass Corridor at 2nd and Hancock.

They had their first daughter, Jennifer (Jenny) in 1971 and Elizabeth (Betsy) in 1973. They were very involved in the congregation from the beginning--Bob served on the 1st UU Board, continued to stay active in drama, sang in the choir, and taught Religious Education, he was very active in the men's group, and cared for the building and grounds; in fact when his daughter, Jenny served as Director of Religious Education, he helped the children plant the daffodil and tulip bulbs that will be coming up soon!

Bob worked for 30 years as a social worker at the Wayne County Jail, and would often remark that the inmates were some of the nicest people you’d ever meet. He would often walk from the jail to Greektown for lunch and would bring home delicious Greek bread and fresh feta on Fridays.

Bob loved music--classical, jazz, blues, folk and Broadway show music. While living in Detroit, Bob and Arlene regularly attended the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and other concerts. And until recent years, when Bob lost most of his hearing, there was always music playing in the Teed home. It is a deep memory for both his children and grandchildren.

Bob was a proud Detroiter and loved the cultural institutions, especially the Detroit Institute of Arts, where he served as a volunteer for several years. Bob and Arlene moved to East Lansing in 2006, primarily to be closer to their beloved grandchildren, Abby and Josh, who live just a few blocks away, and who he adored. In East Lansing, they became active with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing. Bob lost his dear wife in 2017, and remained in greater Lansing until his death.

Bob was a wealth of information. He knew about history, cars, geography, the natural world, world religions, and music history. He loved to share history and stories with people he knew, as well as with strangers—he would often stop someone on a walk and have a long conversation. He was always interested in other people’s stories: children’s friends’, inmates’ homeless people’s. He’d ask how you were—and he genuinely wanted to know.

Bob was a fine example of what love looks like for his children and grandchildren. Jenny and Betsy are both approaching 30 year anniversaries with their life partners, Eric Spencer and Gabe Ording. Bob was very proud of his son in laws, and loved them dearly.

Besides his family and his church, Bob loved the earth, he loved to be outdoors. He would think

globally and act locally, Bob was a proud member of the Sierra Club for 25 years, he led Earth Day services at church, loved a hike in the wood and caring for his yard, garden, compost and flowers! He took seriously his role as a steward of the earth to keep her well for his grandchildren and their grandchildren.

He loved photography- the process from taking photos of loved ones and nature, to developing and sharing photos, slides and home movies.

Bob was quite a distinguished fellow, well-read and traveled, he kept his hair and beard trimmed and had a great sense of style from head to toe! His daughter’s friends wouldn’t believe when they shared how silly he was. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. He often had a joke or other silly or odd piece of information to share. Although he typically only shared his silly side with his family and close friends, he could be caught answering the phone, saying, “Is this the person to whom I speaking?”

Bob would blush if you complemented him on his beautiful blue eyes, or cute curly white locks, but he was quite a handsome man before Arlene fell in love with him, up until his final day- it was no surprise to hear of the women in the nursing home that had crushes on him!

Bob was a very kind, patient and gentle man most of the time, however if he felt disrespected, if someone he loved or our planet was in harm, he would let you know! Bob wrote letters to different presidents of his grave concerns around the lack of attention or blatant disregard to our planet. He left a feeling of warmth and understanding everywhere he went. Until the very end of his life, his caregivers spoke of how sweet he was, what a gentleman he was, and that it was an honor to work with him.

Bob will be greatly missed. But he taught his children and grandchildren to love hard and stand up for what they believe in. The world is forever changed because of his presence here. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Teed and Mildred Teed Jones, his dear wife, Arlene Rathbun Teed, and his sister, Patricia Anderson. He is survived by his daughters Jennifer Teed and son-in-law Eric Spencer, daughter Elizabeth (Betsy) Teed Ording and son-in-law Gabe Ording, his grandchildren, Abigail Ording and Joshua Ording, and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held for Bob on May 14, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing, 5509 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Lansing, MI 48911. Donations can be made to the East Michigan Environmental Action Council.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Teed family.