Rev. Theodore Lewis

The Rev. Dr. Theodore W. Lewis, 87, died on Holy Saturday, April 19, 2014, at LifeCare Center of Nashoba Valley, Littleton, MA, after a long illness. He was born on August 22, 1926 in Sherrill, NY, son of Clifton and Gertrude Lewis. He graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1944 at Oneida High School before serving in the US Navy during WWII. After his discharge from the service, he attended Hamilton College and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors in Greek and Latin in 1950. He went on to attend General Theological Seminary in New York City and earned his M.Div. in 1953. He was then ordained to the Episcopal Diaconate and served as Deacon at the Church of St. Peter and John in Auburn, NY, prior to his ordination to the priesthood in December 1953. He married the late Elizabeth Emily Evans in 1954, and went on to serve as Vicar at Christ the King Church in Fort Worth, Texas, from 1955 to 1957.

He then relocated to Orono, Maine, where he served for 15 years as the Episcopal Chaplain at the University of Maine and was Vicar of St. James, Old Town. He completed his M.Ed. at the University of ME in 1972, and then moved to Massachusetts to pursue his Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology at Boston University. He was the Assistant Priest at the Church of Our Redeemer in Lexington from 1972 to 1974, before being called to serve as Rector at St. Paul's Church, Hopkinton. After receiving his doctoral degree in 1976, he pursued dual careers as a priest and licensed psychologist until his full retirement at age 83. In 1987, he moved to Lunenburg, MA, and served as Priest Associate at Christ Church, Fitchburg, until 2005. For over thirty years he was also the August supply priest at All Saints by the Sea on Bailey Island, ME, where he enjoyed contemplating the surf and the summer constellations. Father Ted was a compassionate priest and therapist, an accomplished musician who sang with Boston's Chorus Pro Musica for years, an avid gardener, a creative cook, a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and a student/teacher in contemplative spiritual practice.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Jo Ann Carrington, at LifeCare Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton, MA; two children, Michael A. Lewis (Teresa), of San Diego, CA, and Dr. Katherine E. Lewis (Peter Tagtmeyer), of Fayetteville, NY; twin grandsons, Nicholas and Evan Tagtmeyer; sisters Helen Gilleece (Donald) of Oneida, NY, and Beatrice Putnam (Norman) of Fabius, NY, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Church, Fitchburg, MA, at 11:00 am on Saturday September 27, 2014.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (www.ssje.org).