Theodore J Leibowitz

Ted overcame many challenges in his life, rising from the ranks of BOCES special education classes where he graduated without ever having read a book, written an essay, or completed long division, to graduating with a Master’s of Public Administration degree from Binghamton University and nearly completing a Master's of Science degree in Organizational Performance from Boise State. Ted was a self-taught and avid photographer; the walls of our house are covered with his exquisite eye for detail. He loved to make puns and watch irreverent shows like Archer, Family Guy, and South Park. He loved to help people, and as the Home Owner’s Association (HOA) President, he was frequently seen painting neighbor’s houses, removing bees, and cutting down branches for our elderly neighbors. Ted was never without a sense of humor or wit. Ted’s love of life included comedians, slam poets, and lyricists (Tupac, Eminem, Shane Koyczan, etc.).

Ted had strong convictions about what it meant to be a genuinely thoughtful and intentionally good person, and he lived those ideals every day. He would publicly denounce people who were racist or homophobic without ever thinking twice, because he innately knew that social injustices remain injustices when people remain silent. He would make an effort to find out what interested the people he cared about, making them feel special and loved.

To people around Ted, he was gregarious, funny, and infatuated with his wife. Ted was all of those things, and he also suffered from undisclosed mental health issues. He would frequently talk about how much he overcame to be where he was, and people were in AWE of his dedication to overcoming such insurmountable obstacles. Ted left a suicide note that spoke of loneliness and despair that he never outwardly expressed, so he bore the brunt of his pain in silence with few telltale signs. Looking closely, however, there were signs: clinical depression, isolation, talking about having no purpose because he lost his dream job at Microsoft, and extreme mood swings.

Even though this obituary is painful to write and read, Ted would have wanted this to be spoken about in a real conversation rather than behind closed doors in the offices of therapists. If you suspect that someone you love is depressed or suicidal, please support that person in getting help. The accompanying picture was taken 3 days before Ted took his life; suicide does not have a “look.” The National Suicide Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Donations in Ted's name can be made to the National Suicide Hotline at the following URL: http://bit.ly/2fXPLfk