From Kings College

Heather Looy, Ph.D.
Edmonton, Alberta
Professor of Ted's from Kings College

When I heard of Ted's untimely death, I was deeply shaken and sorrowful. I was surprised to be so strongly affected as it's been several years since we were last in touch. As I read the other memories of Ted in this blog I had tears coming to my eyes. This deep response confirmed for me that Ted was a remarkable young man who had a profound impact on all those whose lives he touched, however briefly. I hope that even now he knows how deeply he was appreciated and loved by so many.

Ted was a student in several of my psychology courses at King's, and I was also his faculty advisor. We had many conversations about "life, the universe, and everything" in my office. Often Ted would talk of his struggle to find his calling. He felt equally drawn to the earth and farming, to pastoral ministry, and to counseling. Those conversations revealed a young man with a thoughtfulness, depth of insight, and maturity rare at any age.

While I hope I provided some small support and a listening ear to Ted in those years, I KNOW that he provided wonderful support and encouragement to me in my work--unusual for an undergraduate student! He had a gift of listening and of really being present to another in a way that left me always feeling "seen" and valued. He was also a wonderful support during classes. Even if everyone else in the room was either asleep or looking confused, I could look over at Ted and see his deep, steady eyes reflecting thoughtful engagement, and often his gentle nod or small smile of encouragement or understanding. And when I struggled with laryngitis, he was the student who promptly left his seat and offered to be my voice to the class, without my asking, even though I knew that at the time he felt a bit shy about being in the spotlight.

The world has lost a precious gift in Ted. Part of me feels both deeply angry and confused about why he was taken from us. Another part knows and trusts that Ted is, in death as in life, in God's loving hands, for "nothing can separate us from God's love", which is "high and wide and deep". And even in his death, Ted is ministering to us. I have been drawn to reflect on Ted's person and way of being, and in that reflection I am both humbled and inspired to live more deeply, to embrace life in all its messiness with courage, and to accept each day with gratitude.

Ted, thank you for the blessing you have been, and continue to be even in death.

Heather Looy, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology