Theodore Popoff

September 19, 1933 – August 28, 2025

Ted Popoff, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025 at the age of 91. He was born in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, on September 19, 1933. His paternal grandfather was an Eastern Orthodox priest, and as a boy Ted studied violin and played in his school’s youth orchestra. Though his dream of becoming a musician was cut short when his violin broke during his military service, his love of classical music remained a lifelong passion.

After serving as a tank commander in the Bulgarian Army, Ted earned both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Civil Engineering in Bulgaria. In 1973, he joined an international team of engineers working in Cuba building elevated bridges for a new highway. Following his time in Cuba, Ted defected to the United States with his family in 1976.

In 1982, Ted joined Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers (MRCE) in New York City, the second-oldest engineering consulting firm in the country. Licensed as a Professional Engineer in New Jersey, Ted became widely respected for his expertise in structural and geotechnical engineering. Over his nearly three decades at MRCE, he enjoyed mentoring young engineers and draftsmen, and later remained a valued technical consultant long after retirement.

Ted’s career spanned over 60 years and left a lasting mark both in the United States and abroad. His projects included the NYC Second Avenue Subway, the Sony Center in Berlin, Torre Mayor in Mexico City, Hyundai’s Headquarters in Seoul, the Newtown Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant in Brooklyn, the New York Law School, and the Route 9A Pedestrian Underpass Tunnel connecting the World Trade Center with Brookfield Place. For his stabilization work at Ground Zero after the September 11th attacks, Ted was presented with a Hero’s Medal and an American flag by the City of New York.

Beyond engineering, Ted was a dedicated supporter of classical music. He regularly attended concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Tanglewood, where he and his wife Dorothy volunteered for nearly three decades. He was especially committed to promoting young Bulgarian musicians, serving as a board member of the Bulgarian Concert Evenings in New York (BCENY), and often hosted performers at his home near Tanglewood.

Ted is survived by his wife Dorothy Silverstein, his children, Antonella Kauffman (Geoffrey) and Evo Popoff (Leah) and their mother, Danielle Popoff; two grandchildren, James Kauffman and Ella Popoff; his stepson, Jonathan Silverstein (Jill); his stepdaughter-in-law, Taimi Strehlow; three step-granddaughters, Brooke, Carly and Thea; and extended family in Bulgaria. He was predeceased by his first wife, Anna Roshkovska, and their son, Anthony Popov; his stepson, Daniel Silverstein; and his parents and sister.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ted’s honor to the Bulgarian Concert Evenings in New York (https://www.bceny.org/donate), an organization that celebrates the musical traditions closest to his heart.