Obituary of Ted Christensen

Ted Christensen, resident of Santa Clarita CA, originally from Baltimore, MD, exemplary educator and devoted father and husband, died on July 3rd, 2023 after a long fight with cancer. Ted was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Theodore Charles Christenson and Jo-Anne Smith Christensen on July 20, 1969, the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. He attended Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland, and then East Carolina University in North Carolina, where he earned a B.A. in English. Ted was a Varsity swimmer at Calvert, and earned an athletic scholarship to East Carolina, for the Pirates in the Atlantic Coast Conference. After college, Ted taught English at Morrell Park Middle School in Baltimore. Later he met and married Melissa Stokes, another Maryland native, whose work in television production led them to the West Coast. They lived in Pasadena, California for a number of years, while Ted worked at a KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) High School. During this time, they welcomed three children, Charles (Charlie) Christensen, and twins Georgie and Joe. They later moved to Santa Clarita, CA, where Ted taught at Valor Academy in San Fernando. Along the way Ted survived multiple brain tumors, surgeries, and chemotherapy, all while continuing to devote countless hours to work and travel, while still spending quality time with his family and friends. Ted was a good father and loving husband. He was particularly supportive of his son Charlie’s hockey pursuits, and would drive him long distances for games, and even accompany him across the country to tournaments. He loved his wife and children, his family and friends, and his students. He loved games, and music, parties and peace and quiet. He loved the Orioles, the beach, and Chesapeake Bay crabs. He loved life and lived it fully, and will be missed every minute. Ted Christensen is survived by his wife Melissa, and their three children Charlie, Georgie and Joe, his mother, Jo-Anne, his sister Colleen, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. They, like all of us, follow with small steps the giant leaps Ted has left for us.