Theodore Henry Gaertner

Theodore Henry Gaertner, a man of steady character, analytical brilliance, and a legendary capacity for gracious caring, passed away peacefully at home on December 8, 2025, in Dallas, Texas, surrounded by people he loved and surrounded by people that loved him. After a courageous battle with cancer, Ted leaves behind a legacy defined by professional excellence and a heart that served as a warm hearth for his family and friends.

Born on March 7, 1945, in Brownsville, Texas, to Rev. Carl Arnold Gaertner and Anna Helena Meyer, Ted was raised in a home of faith and purpose. He attended Southern Methodist University, where he earned both his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (1967) and his Master of Science in Civil Engineering (1974). A lifelong, fervent supporter of SMU Mustang football, Ted’s loyalty never wavered, even through the program’s most challenging years.

A master of structural and water resources engineering, Ted spent the final 19 years of his career as a Senior Engineer at AECOM in Dallas. His work designing the bridges and systems that connect our world was a reflection of his own nature: practical, reliable, and precise. He also honorably served his country in the United States Navy.

On January 13, 1979, Ted married the love of his life, Mary Elaine Walker, in Dallas. Together, they formed a "legendary team" for 46 years. While they had no biological children, Ted was a devoted father figure to many, offering a refined and capable example of adulthood. He was the man who could stay up late on Christmas Eve to assemble toys with Santa-like precision and the one whose moving Thanksgiving prayers - often delivered with a voice filled with emotion - communicated a depth of love that words alone could not capture.

Ted was a man of conviviality and hearty fellowship. Whether he was pouring a world-class Bloody Mary, mastering the fireplace poker to bring a warm radiance to the room, or enjoying a meal at favorite Dallas haunts like Dunston’s, Campisi's, or Rafa's, he did life as well as it can be done.

Ted is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Walker Gaertner of Dallas, as well as a host of treasured nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family, friends, and co-workers. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Charles Arnold Gaertner.

A service of celebration and thanksgiving for the life of Ted will be held January 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75205, in Wynne Chapel. A reception will follow immediately in the church’s Hunt Lobby. In lieu of flowers, please consider attending an SMU athletic event. Ted will be there with you in spirit. Pony Up!

Ted Gaertner "won the Super Bowl" of life. He was there for those who needed him, he loved deeply, and he was deeply loved in return.