Theodore Ehrlich

Theodore, or Ted as he was affectionately known, was born on January 30, 1940 in New York City to his German immigrant parents, Franz and Matilda Ehrlich.

A lifelong tinkerer and mechanical thinker, Ted started his illustrious 50-year engineering career by earning degrees in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College and The Catholic University of America.

After gaining several years of experience in the industry, Ted transitioned to academia and taught undergraduate and graduate courses at several institutions, including Manhattan College, New Jersey Institute of Technology, New York Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and Rutgers University. He was a dedicated and passionate educator, and his students benefited greatly from his knowledge and expertise. Many of his students became long-time friends and colleagues beyond the classroom.

He began his career in Washington, DC working at the federal level for the Council of Governments, where he led several high-profile transportation projects, including emergency and risk management planning for the District in case the Cold War led to an attack on the United States. Over the years he served as the Director of Transportation Engineering at such firms as Ebasco Engineers & Constructors, Raytheon, Garmen Associates, and AE Com. During his tenure, he oversaw numerous transportation projects across the country, from highways to public transit systems. His work was marked by a commitment to innovation and sustainability, and he was known for pushing the boundaries of what was possible in transportation engineering; as a result of his work, he was recognized with several awards throughout his career. He was also a Fellow of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), where he served on several committees and contributed to numerous publications.

Outside of his work, Ted was an avid fisherman and enjoyed spending time fishing the reservoirs and streams in the Catskill Mountains, where his family kept a cottage in Green County and where he spent as much time as possible, especially in the summer. He was also a skilled do-it-yourselfer and could often be found working on projects around his home and farm. He had a passion for collecting and using all manner of tools and parts for carpentry, plumbing, and automotive repair.

Ted was a loving grandfather to his three granddaughters, Grace, Annabel, and Madelaine. He was also a passionate bluegrass music enthusiast and enjoyed attending jazz and other live performances. In his later years, he and his wife could often be found cruising the oceans off the coast of such places as Hawaii and Alaska.

Theodore is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn Ehrlich; his son Mark (Lana); and his daughter Judy; his sister Francine (Walter), his brother in law Joe and his sister in law Linda; his grandchildren Grace, Annabel, and Madelane, his nieces Emily, Lori, Jill, and Amy, his nephew Jeff and his great-niece Clarissa.

A visitation for Theodore will be held Wednesday, March 8, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High St., Newton, NJ 07860. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church, 209 US-206, Branchville, NJ 07826. A graveside service will be held at a later date.