Walter Edward “Ted” Tedford of Underhill Center, Vt., died on July 14, 2026, after a short illness. He was 98 years and 11 months old.
Ted was born in Manchester, Conn., on August 13, 1927, the youngest of Walter and Margaret (McKinney) Tedford‘s four children. The family moved to Andover, Conn., where he graduated from Andover Grammar School and later from Windham High School in Willimantic, Conn., in 1945.
He joined the U.S. Navy for four years, and upon discharge he attended what is now Eastern Connecticut University. During the Korean War, he went into the Navy in 1951 for one year, discharged in 1952.
He received his bachelor of science degree but spent his career as a journalist, writing and editing for daily papers: the Willimantic Chronicle, the Manchester Herald, the Hartford Times in Connecticut, the (Bergen) Record in Hackensack, N.J., and the Burlington Free Press in Vermont.
He retired in 1990. In retirement, he wrote for, edited and managed the Mountain Villager and wrote for the Mountain Gazette.
Back in 1956, Ted met the love of his life, Marie Flaim O’Brien, They were married in Fort Lee, N.J. He and Marie were married for 66 years, bringing up six children and living in New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont.
While in Connecticut, Ted served as a member and as chairman of the Coventry School Board and as a member of the Coventry Board of Welfare. In Underhill, he served six years and eight months on the Underhill Selectboard and was a member of the Underhill Historical Society. He and friend Grant Corson founded the Jericho-Underhill Marching and Chowder Society Writers Group, still meeting weekly in Jericho.
While at the Free Press, Ted’s series “Aging in Vermont” received first-place award from the New England Press Association. His book, Incident at St. Albans, was published by the Tamarac Press.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026, 1 to 3 p.m., at St. Thomas Church Parish Hall in Underhill Center. All are welcome.
This article appears in August 19 • 2026.
I’m so very sorry to hear this. I had the privilege of working with Ted at the Buyers’ Digest when he was working on the Mountain Villager. Wonderful man, kind and knowledgeable.
I am very sorry that I will be unable to attend Ted’s memorial service, as my family and I are out of town. I had sincerely hoped to be there to pay my respects in person. Since I cannot, I did want to share these thoughts with the Tedford family and all those gathered to remember Ted.
I’d ask that we observe a moment of silence in memory of former Underhill Selectboard member Ted Tedford.
Ted was more than someone who served this community—he was a good man, a good neighbor, and a good friend.
My family first met Ted, Marie, and their family more than twenty-five years ago, shortly after they moved onto Irish Settlement Road near the old Northrop/Fuller Farm, where Dave and Donna Martin now live.
Our families became friends quickly. I can still remember accompanying my grandmother as she would stop by to visit with Marie and their daughter, Laurie. Those visits became some of the memories that have stayed with me all these years.
Over the years, Ted and I would often see each other at Town Meeting or around town. Ted, being an avid Yankees fan, and I would inevitably end up exchanging stories and talking baseball. Those conversations were never rushed. Ted had a way of making every interaction feel genuine.
He was a gentleman in every sense of the word—kind, thoughtful, humble, and someone who had a remarkable ability to engage with people. He was the kind of neighbor that many people hope to have living next door.
It’s hard to say which parent Laurie got her beautiful smile from, because both Ted and Marie had a warmth that naturally drew people in.
There is an old Irish saying: “He who has a good neighbor has a good friend.” Ted lived those words. He wasn’t just a good neighbor—he was a true friend to so many in this community.
On behalf of my family, I offer our heartfelt condolences to Pat and the entire Tedford family. We hope that in the days ahead, the many memories you shared with Ted bring you comfort and peace, just as his friendship brought joy to so many of us.
Thank you, Ted, for your friendship, your service to Underhill, and for showing all of us what it means to be a good neighbor. You will be deeply missed.
—Bob Stone
Member, Underhill Selectboard
His wisdom will be missed by all that knew
Him!
Condolences to the family
A more gentle and thoughtful man than anyone could know! A heart so large and generous he took in a huge family. In all my years living just a mile away from the Tefords on Irish Settlement Road, I never heard a raised voice from Ted.