Frederick "Ted" Canfield

Yarmouth – Frederick W. “Ted” Canfield, 81, of Yarmouth, passed away peacefully on May 22 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough. A Navy veteran and successful businessman who started and ran companies around the country and in Russia, he was devoted to and loved by his family.

He was born in Boston on Feb. 1, 1930, the eldest son of Haskins Bishop Canfield and Anne Waterman Canfield, of Belmont, Mass. Ted graduated from Belmont Hill School in 1948. He went on to graduate from Williams College in 1952, and that same year he married Janet Littlefield, of Belmont, Mass. They had four children, and together raised their family in Wayland, Mass., Webster Groves, Mo. and Memphis, Tennessee. They were married for 40 years.

Shortly after his marriage he entered the Navy in 1953. While there, he graduated from the Officers Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and became a lieutenant, serving 40 months as combat information officer in Korea on the USS Hazelwood. While there, his eldest twin sons were born, and he wasn’t able to first see them until they were six months old. He was a proud and dedicated veteran. After his military service, he was accepted into Harvard Business School, where he earned his MBA.

He worked within various business enterprises specializing in financial management, with companies based Boston, St. Louis, Memphis and elsewhere. He was CFO or Senior Financial Executive for companies such as Dynatech, Missouri Pacific, Ralston Purina, and Delta and Pine Land, and was selected to be on the board of directors of various companies throughout his career.

He was also an entrepreneur, and had a free spirit. In 1992, at the age of 62, he was selected to participate in the first Peace Corps mission to Russia to assist in the development of the Russia private business/free enterprise system. He was in Vladivostok, Russia, with the Peace Corps for 7 years, and participated in other international experiences throughout Asia for several years thereafter, consulting with companies such as ACFES, the European Bank for Reconstruction Development, and Giant Supermarket. While in Russia, Ted met Zhanna. They were married in 1996 and later made Yarmouth their home.

Ted was also active in roles outside of business. He was a member of the World Affairs Council of Maine, Financial Analysts Society, Financial Executives Society, Vladivostok International Business Association, Missouri Amateur ice Hockey Association, Williams Alumni Society, Harvard Business School Club, and the Kiwanis Club, among others.

He loved to talk about politics in entertaining ways, and was an avid and unapologetic Republican. He was an excellent writer, and had articles on various topics published in newsletters and magazines, such as the Williams Alumni Review. He also had a love for the ocean, and for many years enjoyed cruising East Penobscot Bay in his Boston Whaler. He was ‘captain’ of his boat, and his family.

Ted touched the lives of many people with his honesty, integrity, poise, manners, intellect and wit. He knew and carried himself so well, and he was well-respected by all who knew him. But the most important thing in his life was his family, for which he cared about and loved in every way. He was a loyal and respectful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. And his children will never forget the sound and loving advice he was always willing to so gracefully offer over all the years. He often referred to the quote, engraved on the granite gates of Williams College, to his children “Climb High Climb Far Your Goal the Sky Your Aim the Star”.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Zhanna Canfield, of Yarmouth; four children, Scott Canfield and his wife Minh of Yarmouth, Leigh Canfield and his wife Leslie of Yarmouth, Amanda Richardson and her husband Scott of Yarmouth, and Clarke Canfield and his wife Amy of South Portland; and their mother, Janet Canfield, of Memphis. His grandchildren all loved him, and called him ‘Gumpa.’ He will be sorely missed by Brendan Canfield, Erik Canfield, Anushka Canfield, Eli Canfield, Sam Richardson, Julia Richardson, Ean Canfield, and Jesse Canfield. He is also survived by his brother, David Canfield of Frederick, Maryland, and sister, Ann Smart of Springhill, Florida.

He will be missed so much by those who knew and loved him.

Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of his life service on Saturday, June 4th, at 11:00 AM, at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Ted’s life and to share your condolences, memories and tributes with his family. A donation in lieu of flowers to Belmont Hill School, Belmont, MA 02478, or to Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, would be welcome.