Theodore Mitchell Pease Jr.
Jun 19, 1930 -
Nov 15, 2021
Theodore Mitchell (Ted) Pease Jr., age 91, died on Nov. 15, 2021 in his Rabbit Creek home of more than 60 years. In his final weeks, he was surrounded by the love of family and friends.
Ted was born June 19, 1930 in Springfield, Mass. to Theodore M. Pease Sr. and Ruth Bache-Wiig Pease.
He first came to Alaska in the summer of 1950 to work on a gold dredge outside Fairbanks. In 1951, he graduated from Yale University, where he rowed on varsity crew. After college, he volunteered for the U.S. Army infantry during the Korean War, then enrolled in officer training school. A few years out of the military, he purchased a hand-hammered peace belt buckle that he wore the rest of his life.
Post-war, he entered Harvard Law School. During law school summers, he returned to SE Alaska for adventure and work as a choke setter in a logging camp and on a fish trap tender.
Upon graduating from Harvard Law School, Ted married Claire Vogelsong in 1957. In 1960, they moved to Anchorage where Ted began work as an assistant district attorney. Ted later joined the law firm of Burr and Boney, which grew into Burr, Pease and Kurtz. He practiced law for 45 years, a career that included arguing a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ted's enthusiasm for manual labor, particularly digging holes by hand, earned him the nickname "Backhoe Pease." He was a master tree feller and log splitter. He ran his chainsaw and split wood until he was 88.
Ted served on the Anchorage Symphony and the Alaska Kidney Foundation boards, among others. He freely volunteered his time to his children's activities and helped cut some of the early Kincaid ski trails. He also helped found Alaska Legal Services.
Fitness was a passion. Ted competed in nordic ski races, transitioning from wood skis, pine tar, and wool knickers to fiberglass skis, glide wax and lycra. On his lunch hour, he ran laps in the old City Gym or on Chester Creek bike path. Ted was one of Anchorage's first bike commuters, pedaling his Schwinn Continental from his log house in Rabbit Creek to his downtown office when the Seward Highway was just two lanes. From their 50's onward, Ted and Claire explored the world on bicycles, pedaling through parts of Russia, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Inner Mongolia, Vietnam, Nova Scotia, and Ireland.
Ted enjoyed traveling back to his childhood home in Ashfield, Mass. where he cherished many life-long friendships. He returned to Anchorage carrying locally-grown apples and gallons of maple syrup. He also held in his heart the town and people of Seldovia, where he maintained a cabin for 50 years.
Ted will be remembered for his analytical mind and his physical toughness, his work ethic, his smooth tenor singing voice, and a knack for reciting classic poetry.
Most of all, Ted Pease will be remembered for his loyalty and generosity. He stood by his friends, supporting them emotionally and financially when the need arose. He demonstrated his greatest devotion to the love of his life, Claire. After decades of shared adventures, Ted became Claire's caregiver over the last five years. He continued to care for Claire until his death. He felt deep gratitude for his caregivers, especially Jacinta and Leslie.
Ted is survived by his wife of 64 years, Claire V. Pease; three children, David (Mary Ann), Nancy (Dan Hull), and Thomas (Susanne DiPietro); four grandsons, Teddy, Arthur, Andrew and Thomas; and nephews and niece, Paul, Arthur, and Margaret Egolf of Delaware and their families. Ted's sister, Sally Egolf, preceded him in death.
A celebration of Ted's life will be hosted by his family when warm weather returns in May or June, 2022.
