Remembering Ted Pringle

In the past week, we've been flooded with condolences and remembrances of our beloved colleague and friend, Ted Pringle. (Read a message about Ted's passing, by our Executive Director George Jones.)

Ted was the director of our Food and Clothing Program -- and he was much more than that. Today, Bread for the City staff will join Ted's family at his memorial service. In the meantime, we would like to share some of the remembrances that our community has shared with us:

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As I received your email announcing the passing of Mr. Ted Pringle, my heart jumped. Not only will Bread for the City mourn the passing of such a giant of a man in word and deed, but the smaller ministries that he assisted in feeding others also mourn. Ted made the dream of feeding people during the stressed holiday season so easy. Ted, we will miss the width and generosity of your heart and the wisdom of your years! As you stand with other giants that have gone on before, we will continue to strive forward so that no one goes hungry day after day.

Sincerely,
Rev. Lyn Bell
SLS Ministries, Inc.

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God’s true angel has gone to rest among God’s greatest! Being an imperfect man, but still a perfect example for many people to follow. This great person had a heart that was unselfish and prioritized it towards reconciliation which is God’s true plan for mankind. As we mourn the loss of your physical presence Ted, rest assured many feel the legacy of love and firm belief that you have helped instill in those who got to share close and intimate moments with you and also to those who knew you from afar. ( We will always have a part of you living within us.) To your family I offer my condolences because I know you must feel blessed to have been akin to such a driven force of life that should be recognized as one GOD’S go-getters. We love you Ted and appreciate the many life lessons we’ve received from you .

You’ll always be missed but also remembered in joy.
Anthony “Tony” Weldon

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I've volunteered at Bread for the City for 20 years. One of the reasons, of course, is because it gives me the opportunity to give back to the community. Equally, I love to be around the upbeat, cheerful, supportive people who work there. Of these, Ted was the winner -- the most upbeat, cheerful and supportive of all. He seemed to take pleasure from everything he did and every person he encountered -- and in so doing, he gave pleasure back to me. There will be so many people who will miss him. One of them is me.

Roger Kuhn

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To my Bread for the City family: I will always remember Ted as a role model for the commitment and good nature he brought to his work. It always lifted everyone around him. Ted never missed an opportunity to poke his head into our office upstairs just to say to us, always with a smile, "Good Morning, Legal!" No matter how stressed out we might have been at that moment, he always lifted our spirits. I was always amazed that someone could have worked so hard for so long at a job so demanding and always maintain such a positive spirit. We should all be so fortunate in our own lives.

May you rest in peace, Ted.

With love,
Ben Kull

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PICTURE THIS—1996 AMERICORPS. I JUST GOT BACK INTO THE WORK FORCE AFTER MANY YEARS OF NOT WORKING. SINGLE PARENT, NERVOUS, ALONE. I LOOKED UP AND HE WAS LOOKING AT ME. HOLY CRAP! OUR EYES CONNECTED AND I SAW THE SMILE. THANK YOU GOD! HE WELCOMED ME….THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF MY JOURNEY. WITH THE VOICE OF AUTHORITY. HE IS OUR GENTLE GIANT. FILLED WITH LOVE, LIFE, DIGNITY, RESPECT, SERVICE, AND JUSTICE. HE HELPED ME TO TURN MY NEGATIVES INTO HEALTHY POSITIVES. I WAS NEEDED AGAIN. I AM CALLED TO BE HERE AT BREAD. NEVER FORGETTING.

LOVE, JENETTE.

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I am really saddened to hear of this. Ted was an amazing person. I remember him as always full of pep, always ready to get to work, and always always treating clients with dignity and respect, humor and kindness. Everyone who was around Ted felt he genuinely cared for them.

My favorite Ted story was this: When I was a LVC volunteer, Carrie DiRamio was bemoaning the fact one day that she never received nice notes. So, one Friday morning, when Carrie was running late and we were all assembling for a staff meeting, we decided that everyone would write a nice note to Carrie. Ted said, "Who's Carrie?" We all laughed at that, and laughed even more when his nice note was read: "Carrie--thanks for coming to work today. Ted."

Much love to all of you, what I call the B&Z family.

Jenny Schulz

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Thank you, Ted Pringle, for showing us all how it can be done with grace and competence. The food program is incredible, and was run by an amazing man: strong yet gentle, organized yet caring, a mover yet patient. I'm grateful for his inspiration and all Ted accomplished; and very sad for our loss.

Marie Hoffman

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Lastly, a slideshow composed by Nathan LaBorie:

Many people have asked us how they can support Bread for the City and Ted's family in this time, and we are so grateful for your support. Ted Pringle and his family did make a generous pledge to the capital campaign for Bread for the City's Northwest Center expansion, which they are now unable to fill alone. You can help the Pringle family fulfill that pledge: http://breadforthecity.org/TedPringle

We'll miss you, Ted.