Theodore Edward Farrand

Theodore Edward Farrand (Ted) passed away Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Germantown, Maryland. Ted is survived by his beloved wife, Susan (Schinleber) Farrand; their daughter Ashley Oland; grandson Ethan Oland; four siblings, Richard, Blair, Jennifer (Farrand) Gardner, and David; as well as many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 2:00pm, at Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, 610 South Frederick Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Inurnment will be private at the church columbarium.

Ted was born June 15, 1949, in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, to Edward (‘Ed’) and Elizabeth (‘Libby’) Farrand. Ted’s father supervised crews cutting pulpwood for paper manufacturing. When Ted was about 2, Ed accepted a position with the Penn State Forestry Extension Service and moved his growing family to the State College area. The family grew to 5 children, with Ted at the middle.

As a typical middle child, Ted did a lot to keep his family entertained and engaged. When his mother was working he often made their dinner. This probably perked his interest in hospitality and feeding people.

Ted graduated from State College Area High School in 1967. He was dedicated to the scouting life and, also in 1967, earned the Eagle Scout Award. He achieved the Order of the Arrow and participated in leadership training during his many years in scouting.

An extrovert who loved people, Ted attended Penn State, eyeing a career in hospitality. He joined Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, living in its house near campus, though his family lived just blocks away. Ted stayed active with the fraternity throughout his life. In 1971, he graduated with a B.S. in Food Service and Housing Administration, and continued his life-time involvement with both Penn State and the College of Health and Human Development. After graduation, he worked as assistant manager at the Pittsburgh Stouffer’s Restaurant and manager of Stouffer’s Chicago restaurant. His transition to Chicago was swift, over a weekend, but as a young single man, he was able to put most of his possessions in his Honda CVCC and trek the six or so hours to a new life.

After a time, he left Stouffers for Magic Pan, managing stores at Chicago Walton Street and Orland Park, and opening the restaurant in Northbrook Court. Since the commute from Wrigleyville on Chicago’s north side was lengthy, Ted moved to the suburbs, specifically Northbrook, Illinois, closer to his new work home. He found a home at the Village Presbyterian Church. There he met Susan (‘Sue’) Schinleber at church where they agreed to start a singles ministry together. Sue’s deep roots in the town and Ted’s newness made a perfect combination to address the changing demographics of the suburb.

In 1981, Ted decided to leave day-to-day operations and accepted a position with Cini-Grissom as a food service consultant out of its Schaumburg, Illinois, office. In spring 1983, Ted was relocated to the company’s headquarters near Washington, DC. Before he left though, he proposed to Sue and surprised the Singles with his announcement of their engagement and his impending, imminent move.

Sue and Ted married in October 1983, and they moved together to Montgomery Village, Maryland. In the interim, Ted found Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church and immediately became active. Sue and Ted both joined the church in 1984. He served on Session twice, was a member of nearly every ministry at one time or other, and sat on the choir director selection committees. Choir was his special place, though, as were the monthly Men’s Breakfast meetings and the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner.

Daughter Ashley was born in 1986. Ted shared childcare responsibilities and loved being around her friends. One or maybe four friends came to the beach, and he chaperoned some of her youth mission trips. His speciality for the girls was pizza on New Year’s Eve but, at the beach and at every home gathering, there were always cooking surprises. Ted never lost his love for cooking, cookbooks, and cooking magazines. There are more than 300 cookbooks in the home library. Ted and Sue also tested recipes with Magic Pan friends, Andy and Su, on New Year's Day.

After transitioning to Cini-Little in 1987, Ted stayed for 38 years (four years as President). He was well-known and appreciated for his expertise. He worked on commercial foodservice projects across the country and throughout the world. In 2016, Ted received the prestigious Bob Pacifico Above and Beyond Award from the Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management for his contributions to the industry. He served on the Board of the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society, and, long before his retirement in 2018, Ted became President of his Homeowners Association and a Board Member of the Germantown Historical Society.

Ted’s love of people, food, and hospitality will live on long after his passing in the people he touched with his warmth, humor, and generosity. In Ted’s memory, please consider a donation to your local food bank, animal shelter, or literacy program.