Theodore Max Conover

Theodore Max Conover died at home, peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday night, April 28, 2020; he was 94 years old. Having suffered two strokes and living with an aortic aneurysm, he amazed doctors and caregivers with his strength and toughness.

Ted was born on July 31, 1925 to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Conover of Jackson, MI. He enlisted in the US Navy while still attending high school, participating in 11 invasions in the South Pacific before his honorable discharge in 1945. After WWII, he bought a Navy whaleboat to convert into a sailboat. He headed to warmer waters with a friend and his dog Skipper—traveling down the Mississippi River from Michigan to the Gulf of Mexico. Ted lived on this boat while attending classes at the University of Tampa and eventually graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in psychology and sociology.

Ted was a yacht captain, publisher, travel consultant, boat builder, and handyman extraordinaire. He owned several types of vessels over the years, many dubbed The Lancer and had a lifelong love of German Shepherd dogs. To everyone's surprise, he grew fond of Ragdoll cats as four legged companions in his later years.

An adventurer to the core, he wanted to be a simple pirate, bobbing along any ocean with plenty of rum aboard. Being a practical man however, he started his career creating an International Hotel Directory, the first of its kind to provide accurate information on the leading hotels in the Western Hemisphere for the travel industry. He bought, rebuilt, and sold boats throughout his life. He did the same with small apartment buildings in Fort Lauderdale where he finally settled in the late 50s. He was a member of the Explorers Club, the CSYC, and the Royal Rogues Yacht Club.

Despite always telling his friends, "I don't know of a married man I envy," Ted eventually exchanged vows with his wife of 36 years, Jennifer Rahel Conover. She was a superb first mate on their boats and in life. In their final years together, they took six world cruises, with their last one returning to port last May. His wife Jennifer predeceased him last July. Ted is survived by a nephew Chris Sylvan of Fresno, CA and his step-daughter Rahel Crowley of Mill Valley, CA.

Due to the Corona pandemic, no service is planned at this time.