Edward Ted Hellier

SOUTH PORTLAND - Edward Ted Hellier; amazing father, true loving husband, fierce friend, inspirational coach, and snappy dresser, passed away peacefully in his home on June 17, 2013, surrounded by family and friends. Ted was born in Detroit, MI to his parents Edward W. Hellier Jr., and Margaret Codd Hellier. Shortly after, the family moved to Darien, CT, where his sister Sally would soon join them. He attended Tokeneke School, and Mather Jr. High in Darien. He graduated from Saint Mark's School in Southborough MA, in 1974, where he met many of his closest, lifelong friends. After high school, Ted attended Washington and Lee University, where he played Lacrosse. After taking a few years off, Ted attended the University of Maine at Orono, and graduated in 1985 with a major in Spanish. Ted lived a colorful and lucky life. As a young man, he lived in Texas, Virginia, Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Saint Thomas before finally settling in Maine. He could easily fall into any accent from his past often eliciting the line Where you from now Ted? Ted made a living for most of his life as a carpenter, and most recently as a solar thermal installer. He was passionate about alternative energy and was building a successful business before he had to stop in 2012, when he could no longer be as mobile as he needed to be. Ted loved his life; his family, wife Susan, daughter, Eliza and son, T-Moe were the lights of his life. He always cherished the time he got to spend with his in-laws and their families, and always had many friends surrounding him throughout his life, from every chapter of his life. As Ted once said... We don't drop friends, we kind of collect them. And collect he did. He is often quoted as saying I am a lucky man. During his illness many of these friends, new and old came through in full force to carry him through the darkest days and managed to lift him higher than he could have ever imagined. Many in the area know Ted as a youth coach, coaching baseball, basketball, and for the past 9 years as a youth lacrosse coach. Lacrosse was Ted's other passion. He lived to coach, and watch lacrosse and he loved his players, every one of them. Ted always found the good in each player and encouraged them to continue on in the sport he loved. He was a gentle teacher, with a deep knowledge of the sport and shared that passion with those he was fortunate enough to coach. Ted was also a quiet volunteer who did not like to talk about all he did, he preferred to keep it to himself. In the past year, his secret was let out and he reluctantly received some accolades, which he was thoroughly embarrassed about. Never being one to like that kind of attention. Ted was recently described as being "so open and sunny and just full of good vibes and positive energy. And that he was. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Susan Delsandro Hellier; his children, Eliza and Edward "T-Moe" Marley both of South Portland; his uncle George of Rochester, MA; sister Sally of Georgia; his in-laws, Christopher and his wife Carol, Peter and his wife Susan and Bob his wife Gloria; and his many nieces and nephews, whom he adored. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 21, from 4-7pm at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to South Portland Lacrosse Boosters Ted Hellier Scholarship fund. South Portland Boys Lacrosse Boosters, c/o Susan Lloyd-Rees, Treasurer, 41 Sprague St., South Portland, ME 04106.Online condolences may be expressed below.