Funeral for Ted Dash

Dash

It still doesn’t register that Ted Dash - long time member of both the Toronto Running Club and XSNRG Running Club - will not be running with Nathalie and the rest of us anymore. If you’re just hearing about this for the first time, Ted passed away Friday, July 31st from complications arising from a virus that led to a stroke, medically induced coma, kidney failure and more. Our hearts go out to Nathalie, Ted’s wife of just one year but partner of 10 years.

Ted and Natalie at the Powerbar 5k

A short service will be held to remember and honor Ted Dash Saturday August 8th at 3pm. There’s an earlier visitation from 1 to 3 pm. All are welcome to the North York Y at Bayview/Sheppard after the 3pm funeral for food & refreshment. There will be no body at the funeral home, just his ashes.

The service will be at 3pm at The Simple Alternative Funeral Centre, 275 Lesmill Rd. Toronto. Tel: 416-441-1580. This is in the 401-Leslie St. Area.

For directions, visit http://www.thesimplealternative.ca/our_locations/toronto.asp

There is no visitation at the Funeral Centre on Thursday or Friday, only Saturday from 1-3pm.

Remembering Ted

One of our favorite stories about Ted happened at the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon a couple years ago when then, MDRC, was volunteering at the water station at Lakeshore and Sherbourne.  The station was spread out over a hundred meters for the 10,000 runners expected in a huge crush.  Ted was standing near the Elite water bottle table keeping an eye on things as the first few Kenyans whipped by.  Ted was impressed by their speed and how similar it was to his own!

stephen ted john bob

The 4th or 5th place runner, a Kenyan, came speeding along and grabbed at his water bottle on the Elite table but didn’t get a grip on it and knocked it off the table. Ted watched it all unfold as if in a trance then suddenly made a decision, lunged for the bottle and started sprinting to catch the Kenyan.  Over 50 volunteers stopped what they were doing to witness the drama unfolding… an amateur Caucasian runner, twice the age of the Kenyan he was chasing, attempting to catch a 2:12 marathoner.  No one would have bet on Ted catching the Kenyan but he did. His heavy footsteps startled the Kenyan who thought a rival was catching him.

No, it was just Ted Dash, doing the Ted Blast over 125 meters of people cheering him on. His face was red, his cheeks were puffed and on his last gasp he thrust the water bottle into the face of the surprised but thankful Kenyan. Ted’s foolhardy but heroic action impressed all!  We’re not sure why he disappeared for a while but we suspect he needed a snooze after his ‘feet’!

Ted was a member of our running club for 11 years and during that time helped out at events, most notably as a volunteer at water stations the club coordinated for the Waterfront Marathon or Toronto Marathon.  He was a frequent volunteer at the Mad Dog Scramble too, nipping at the heels of runners as they passed him.  If Nathalie wasn’t running in the event, she was there with him to hear his silliness and to see his antics.

Ted and Nathalie

Ted was personable, full of life, encouraging and had a good sense of humor. At our last count he had completed 13 marathons but may have slipped a few more in when we weren’t looking.  Over the 10 years of his relationship with Nathalie they attended many dozens of races together.

So long Ted, it’s been great to know you.

Michael Brennan







8 Responses to “Funeral for Ted Dash”

When I first met Ted at York University in 1973 he was a sprinter who excelled in, what else, what was then called the hundred yard dash. So it comes as no surprise to me at least, that he could catch up to even a younger, seasoned marathoner. Teddy ate those guys for breakfast back in the day. But you probably know this by now. The running world has lost a champ and I have lost a lifelong friend. I share your grief while I celebrate Ted’s life and his accomplishments.

james marck Aug 03 09 at 2:05 pm

Ted was a charmer, as these great photos demonstrate. I too met Ted at York University in 1973. He was friendly and supportive to all of us and had a great sense of humor. I remember his snappy dressing, and one incident in particular: a group of guys came to the Stong cafeteria, probably at an evening dance, with the clear intention of causing trouble.
Unlike myself and a couple of close, but not very confident friends, Ted stepped in front of the guys and indicated with bravado the mistake starting anything would be. They backed down right away. It was an impressive moment. I last saw him in January of 1985 in Toronto. I will miss him.

Chuck Michaelson Aug 03 09 at 6:15 pm

Over the ten or so years that Barbara and I knew Ted we became very fond of him. Likewise he seemed to very much enjoy coming up to Peterborough to visit us and our gang. He was a real spark plug, enthusiastic, supportive and above all, generous. He would unfailingly arrive with copious “spiritual” libations and a big box of chocolates.
One thing he and I shared was a love of motorized vehicles of all kinds, and we regularly attended car shows together. When he got his new Mercedes, he drove up with Nathalie and we went for a drive in the country. After a rest stop he handed me the keys. “You drive”, says he, knowing full well that this would be the closest I would ever get to helming such an exquisite automobile.
That was our Teddy, God knows we will miss him.

Curtis Driedger Aug 04 09 at 8:11 am

I’ll continue to miss my beloved big brother for the rest of my life….I remember racing him down the mile long dirt road at the cottage when we were kids…and beating him!!!….or maybe my big brother just let me win eh?
I just knew that the sun just seemed to shine a bit brighter whenever he looked my way.
I have and always will love you Ted.

Karen Dash Aug 04 09 at 9:18 am

I first met Ted twelve years ago in the staffroom of a small elementary school where he was working with one of our hearing impaired students. You always knew when Ted was in the building. He had such an infectious upbeat, positive energy that brightened every place he went. Ted was a well respected audiologist who forever enlightened the lives of the students who were fortunate enough to have had him work with them.
Ten years after meeting Ted, I married a man who, as it turned out, had been a close friend of Ted’s for over thirty years. What a joy it was to be able to know Ted both professionally and personally. He carried that same joie de vivre that he showed in the classroom into every aspect of his life. Thank you Ted for teaching us the power of positivity and the art of living life with grace and humour. You have left all of those who knew you with this extraordinary gift.
We miss you, Teddy. See you at the finish line.

Alison Marck Aug 05 09 at 4:57 pm

I met Ted at York University in 1974, and I will never forget his huge grin and his explosive laugh. He was “cool” in the way that a guy who really knows himself is cool, joining in our youthful hi-jinks when he felt like it and standing aside when he didn’t. I knew he was big into running, and we talked about it once, but since I was living outside Toronto, I never got a chance to go for a run with him. I’ll think of Ted whenever I need a burst of energy to make it to the finish line.

Gordon Graham Aug 06 09 at 8:27 am

Ah, Teddy, I wish you coulda stayed. I’ll tell Meryl Streep you can’t make it, and send your last regards to Broadway. We were the brothers neither of us had, don’t forget. I know I’ll never forget you.

Daryl Jung ("Big D") Aug 07 09 at 8:24 pm

OMG - sitting here w/ time on my hands I decided to google an old friend - Ted Dash. I can’t believe he is gone so young. I also met Ted at York through the track team and we became good friends for many years. The last time we were together was 1998(?) when we put together a 4×200m alumni relay team and participated in a track meet in conjunction with a York U varsity track reunion. We all brought out our old spikes, warmed up well, and, believing we hadn’t really lost much in 20 years, we hit the track. One torn hamstring, a severly pulled achilles, and a torn achilles (Ted! he drove himself to the hospital and ended up having surgery!) later, the truth hit home. Somehow it ended up being an experience we laughed at. I guess that everyone has a ‘typical’ Ted story. I will always remember the great fun times we had many years ago. My condolences to his children and wife who have lost a good man.

Margot Wallace Aug 28 09 at 8:25 pm

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