Ted Walter Hardman

August 30, 1950 - February 7, 2025

Ted Walter Hardman was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on August 30, 1950 to Walter and Winifred “Winnie” (Moran) Hardman. Named after Ted Williams, Ted naturally played baseball throughout his youth. While attending Ted Williams baseball camp one summer, he wondered if he would meet his namesake. The opportunity came one day as he was pitching, although it didn’t quite go as he expected. He was “yelled at” by Ted Williams himself for not covering on a ground ball to first.

An Industrial Engineering graduate of SMU (UMass Dartmouth), Ted worked at Andrew Dutton Company, Inc. and YSI (Yellow Springs Instruments).

Fondly known as “Teddy” or “Teddy Ballgame”, he enjoyed sports, music, fishing, travel, and especially his dogs, Toto and Roxie. A natural born storyteller prone to accidents, he entertained his family and friends with humorous renditions of his adventures and mishaps.

Ted was given the gift of life via a liver transplant in 2013. His stepdaughter Melissa, generously and selflessly donated a portion of hers as a living donor. He later developed Corticobasal Syndrome, a neurological disorder that robbed him of his independence. Reliance on his faith, family, and devoted wife sustained him through this difficult chapter of his life. In his final days, he was surrounded by family and close friends. Although unable to communicate, he expressed great joy in their presence.

Ted loved his family and is survived by his wife, Glenna (Gilchrest), his brother Dana and his wife Christine, his sister Beth and her husband Luke Laperierre, his stepchildren Melissa (Mansfield) and her husband, Jacob Corbett, Kyle Mansfield, and his grandchildren Hannah and Abigail Mansfield and Eliette and Samuel Corbett. He is also survived by his niece Bridget (Theberge) Jay and nephews Gregory Theberge and David Hardman. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Ann Theberge and nephew, Georgie Theberge.

There will be a Celebration of Life service on February 22, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Christian Fellowship Center, 822 Church St, New Bedford, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The American Liver Foundation or Adult and Teen Challenge New England, two charities dear to Ted.

For on-line tributes, visit our website at www.rock-funeralhome.com