Theodore C. Sandquist ’59 died on October 1, 2023, in Highland Ranch, Colorado.
(The following was provided by Horan & McConaty Funeral Home in October 11, 2023:)
Theodore Corley Sandquist
Theodore C. Sanfquist ’59
Theodore Corley Sandquist, age 86, passed away on October 1, 2023. He was born in Springfield, MA, on September 12, 1937, and spent the first part of his life in New England. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1959, where he was the captain of the soccer team, played hockey, and was a member of both the White Key Society and Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. Ted was a Bowdoin class agent for many years. His guiding mantra from Bowdoin and his life was “For the College and the Common Good.”
After graduation, Ted went to work for “Previews of Progress.” This was a General Motors traveling show that presented the modern wonders of science. “Previews of Progress” was not designed so much to show what the future was to hold as it was to illustrate some of the interesting processes whereby new things are born and grow into industries. Ted enjoyed the travel and the lifelong friends he made, and he absolutely loved teaching the kids about these modern wonders.
In 1961, Ted was drafted into the army as a specialist sixth class, Fifth Infantry Division, U.S. Army, Fort Carson, Colorado, and honorably discharged on August 16, 1963. Ted was proud to be a veteran and always honored veterans at many Memorial Day, Veterans’ Day, and Fourth of July ceremonies, especially at Ft. Logan National Cemetery.
Ted spent many years with various corporate positions in public relations with Mountain Bell, AT&T, and Southern New England Telephone. Highlights included founding the weekly “Bell Labs News,” an international publication circulated to over 20,000 employees and audiences. This newspaper was originally designed to solve problems discovered by an employee communication study. It remains virtually unchanged today. (Ted ran public relations and marketing programs for twenty-five years as a public relations executive for US West and AT&T). Ted was involved with community service to a variety of organizations during his lifetime.
In 1990, Ted was hired by Red Rocks Community College to run the college’s public relations and marketing programs and to join in campaigns to increase sagging enrollment. For the next five years, Red Rocks Community College led the state’s community colleges in enrollment increases.
In 1995 Ted was appointed to head and create the first foundation for Red Rocks Community College with the purpose of soliciting donations to establish a financial aid program for Red Rocks Community College students. During his tenure, the Red Rocks Community College Foundation helped eight hundred to nine hundred students, more scholarships per year than all the state’s community colleges combined.
Ted’s interests became lifelong passions: member of Albuquerque Roadrunners Hockey Club (Champions, Senior Olympics, 1981); member of US West Corporate Track Club, 1984-1985; as well as riding his bike in Ride the Rockies (twice) and in RAGBRAI (Registers Annual Great Bike Ride across Iowa) for twenty years. Clearly an avid biker, Ted loved to teach and ride bikes with his children and grandchildren. He was an avid golfer and skier, and loved the outdoors. Ted was an amazing husband, dad, step-dad, grandpa/papa, uncle, and friend to many people. Ted had a passion and love for his family, friends, the outdoors, dogs, the Boston Red Sox, and the Denver Broncos. Ted instilled a strong sense of community, respect for others and just doing the right thing with everyone he met and this will be the legacy that will live on in his children and grandchildren.
Ted is survived by his wife of twenty-six years, Deb Sandquist, the love of his life; two daughters: Ann-Marie Sandquist, Silverthorne, CO, and Meredith (Aaron) Sopko, Ranchester, WY, three step-children; Matthew (Jaime) Hinrichs, Castle Rock, CO, Megan Johnson, Pawnee City, NE, and Mitchell (Nicole) Hinrichs, Sac City, IA; plus eleven grandchildren; cousins General (Retired) John (Alice) Corley and Dean (Jerry) Myane. He is survived by a loving community of family and friends, including “Little Ted” Breidenthal, who was like a son to him.
Ted was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Joffray, his father, Theodore Sandquist, and his step-father, Clarence Joffray (Mary Sandquist), infant children Patricia Sandquist and Theodore Sandquist, step-brother Don Joffray, and uncle and aunt Donald (Mettie) Corley