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Eulogy for Ted Folkman

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Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canadamap
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Eulogy for Ted Folkman by Stuart McCormick, husband of Ted's sister Sharon.

Delivered at Ted's funeral in 1998. Memorialized in 2022 as a WikiTree Thing by Stuart McCormick, Ted's nephew.

Good Afternoon

We are here remembering Theodore Nathan Folkman born October 9, 1941. Ted was baptized by his father in the town of Manville, Alberta. He was confirmed at Redeemer Lutheran church by Pastor Rumsch. Ted was married to Betty who was a wonderful and loving lady.

Ted, besides being one of the most philosophical individuals I have ever met, was also a match for my wife when it comes to using up all the hot water when they shower.

Ted was a man who asked a lot of questions and had many answers. Questions like "do we really need to destroy our environment as much as we are doing?" "Is the damage being repaired?" "Is there another way of achieving our environmental goals?" For many of us we sometimes found his questions and answers frustrating but we all realized it was Ted's great desire to philosophize.

To Ted the mind and the thoughts the mind generated were all encompassing and to him time could stand still.

Don't ask Ted about Term deposits at a bank or filling out a particular form. The common everyday tasks that many of us surround our lives with were of no consequence to Ted.

I often would say to my wife, what Ted really needed was a benefactor, someone who would give him the time and money he needed to read his books and write the story that was in his mind. A story that was being told over a lifetime, that also had no end. It could never end because he had too many questions to be answered.

The psychological stresses and strains of normal day to day living that many of find difficult to cope with at times, never seemed to bother Ted.

Ted was one of the most honest and truthful individuals I have ever met in my life. He was - Just Ted, you had to accept him the way he was.

Ted's love for his family had become abundantly clear this past year. Betty was so important to him, she was the stabilizing influence in his life. His mother, and his eight brothers and sisters, who love him dearly, were his main focus.

I believe that Ted touched the hearts of many people. He is now with his maker, our Lord, and I am sure is asking a question. I, like so many of you, would love the be the fly on the wall and listening to that conversation.

I would like to close with this poem:

Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on the snow. I am the sunlight on the ripened grain, I am the gentle autums rain. When you waken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush, Of the quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die.





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