Theodore "Ted" George Lindeman

Ted was born on March 11, 1951, in Denver Colorado to George Munro Lindeman and Elizabeth Van Valkenburgh Lindeman. Ted was the first child followed by siblings Paula, Carl, and William. Growing up in the Woodmen Valley area of Colorado Springs, Ted loved backpacking, camping, hiking in the mountains, hunting with cousins, working in his dad’s shop, and riding the family’s “slide for life” zip line. Ted also enjoyed playing in the tree house built with his dad and brothers, helping with the family’s horses, and assisting with bee keeping. And of course, Ted was always engaged in some form of scientific experimentation, often testing pyrotechnics and/or shooting off various projectiles. Ted graduated from Air Academy High School in 1969 and then attended Colorado College on a Boettcher Scholarship. He graduated cum laude in 1973 and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Ted then went on to Cornell University where he earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1979.

During graduate school at Cornell, Ted met his future wife Kathy while singing in the Ithaca Community Chorus. They were married in 1979 in Ted’s family home and had their reception at the Flying W Ranch in Colorado Springs. Ted finished his post-doc at CU Boulder in 1981 and after welcoming daughter Robin to the family, they moved to Middlebury Vermont for Ted’s first teaching position. That same year, Ted was offered his dream job in the Chemistry department at Colorado College, where he taught for 37 years. Son Ian joined the team in 1984. Ted was awarded the Blue Key Teaching Award May 8, 2001.

Ted was a long-time member of the First Congregational Church UCC (over 50 years) where he sang in the Chancel Choir, taught bible study, sang the part of shepherd or King in the annual Christmas Mystery, played the role of the Jester (“Sir Rumpus of Sackbutt”) in the biennial Madrigal Dinner, and was a member of various committees.

Ted’s hobbies, interests, and activities were numerous. He was a faithful member of the AdAmAn club, making his first climb at 16 and becoming a member at age 22. 2019 marked his 50th climb with the club, a record that is likely to hold for the foreseeable future. He was well-known for his sourdough pancake breakfasts, which he served to his family every Saturday and to all his chemistry classes. He enjoyed creating and adapting recipes to use sourdough and would pass along starters and recipe sheets to everyone who became enthusiastically interested, even mailing them out of state.

Ted enjoyed building and maintaining bicycles and biked everywhere in all kinds of weather. Ted could be relied on to construct or fix almost anything, often in highly creative ways. He was an avid collector of possibly useful things (“waste-not, want-not” was his motto) and he did eventually incorporate some of these items into his repairs or creations.

His other interests included making/launching hot air balloons and model rockets, participating in the Round Table lecture group, giving K-12 school science demonstrations, singing in the CC campus choir, shooting fireworks as a licensed pyrotechnician, playing recreational hockey, supporting science fair projects – his children’s and anyone else who asked, hand-cranking ice cream, climbing 14ers, helping Kathy with History Day and the Antiquarian Book Seminar, and listening to Classical and 70-80’s rock music.

Ted is survived by his wife Kathy, his daughter Robin Lindeman (Andy Rossing), son Ian (Carly Lindeman), his sister Paula Henley (Paul), brother Carl (Ruth Watkins), brother Bill (Leila), several nieces and nephews, and many cousins. Ted is preceded in passing by his father George and his mother Betty.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 1:00 PM at First Congregational Church, 20 E St. Vrain St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Services will also be live-streamed and recorded for those who cannot attend in person.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Alzheimer's Disease Research (Giving - Alzheimer's Disease Research Center), and/or the Chemistry Department at Colorado College (Giving & Connecting - Colorado College).

The family appreciates all the support they have received during this time and have loved hearing all the amazing stories friends and family have shared with us.