Allan Todd Sagraves, age 89, of Cary, NC, died May 12, 2019, at Spring Arbor of Cary. Born in Louisville, KY, he was the son of Crayton and Jennie Goodlett Sagraves. He was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was known for his trademark “Toddisms” and never met a stranger in his life.
He graduated from Boise Junior College, Boise, ID, with an A.A. degree, a B.A. from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, an M.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and a Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies from the University of Connecticut. He was a professor of business and marketing education at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), New Britain, CT, retiring in 1992 after teaching thirty-one years. He was an advocate for vocational education, loved teaching and forged lifelong bonds with many of his students.
Todd was awarded a Doctorate of Humanitarian Service by Briarwood College in Southington, CT, as well as CCSU’s Distinguished Service Award in 1987, the highest honor the university bestows. He was appointed to serve on the Connecticut Advisory Council for Vocational Education under Governors Grasso and O’Neill. Todd was elected president of the National Association of Distributive Education Teachers (NADET). He also served as the national historian for the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) and was bestowed an honorary life membership to both the Connecticut and national organizations.
Todd served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict as a Personnel Specialist. He often joked that he was the most important soldier on the base because he distributed everyone’s pay. He was a member of many service organizations, including the Free Masons of CT, and held lifetime memberships in the Air Force Association, American Legion and American Vocational Association.
After retirement, Todd and Mary Anne (Bokan), his wife of 59 years, traveled extensively both here and abroad. Todd especially liked to go cruising, whether it was on a ship or a riverboat, as he loved the idea of “one stop vacations.” He also had a goal to visit to all the national parks and came close to achieving it; they got their “passport stamps” at over 300 of them.
Todd was preceded in death by his beloved Mary Anne and is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Scott and Michelle Sagraves of Belton, TX, and his daughter, Ann (Sagraves) Elsner, of Apex, NC; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Tayler and husband Will Stogsdill (Charlotte and William Stogsdill), Kimberly Maxwell and fiancée Stine Hella Nyland, Nick and Jordann Sagraves, Matt and Catie Elsner and many nieces and nephews.
A special thanks to all those who cared for Todd at Spring Arbor of Cary (including, but certainly not limited to Violet, Juanita, Jennifer, Angel, Diane, Hiwat, Shelby, Liz, Yvette and Maxine) and to the staff at Transitions LifeCare, including Elizabeth and Pastor Doug.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 15th at 1 pm at Holly Springs United Methodist Church , 108 Avent Ferry Road, Holly Springs, NC, with a burial to follow at Wake Memorial Park, 7002 Green Hope School Road, Cary, NC with military honors. Todd's wife, Mary Anne, will also be interred at that time.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the USO of NC at RDU, P.O. Box 91443, Raleigh, NC 27675 (https://northcarolina.uso.org/support/donate), Alzheimer’s NC, 9131 Anson Way, Suite 206, Raleigh, NC 27615 (www.alznc.org) or The A. Todd Sagraves Scholarship Fund at Central Connecticut State University (www.ccsu.edu/Giving). Good-bye “Partner” you will be forever missed – “You done good!”
