Ted Pokorny, courageous ALS victim
Ted Pokorny of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Baltimore County, Md., passed away Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, after a courageous three-year battle with ALS during which time he and his wife, Jo, founded Team Ted to raise funds for others facing the same health issues.
After his ALS diagnosis in Spring 2010, Ted and Jo began their full commitment to make a difference for future ALS patients by raising over $50,000 through Art for the Cause 2011, Art-a-PaloozzzA 2012, Rehoboth Walk to Defeat ALS and dinner events. The focus of Team Ted 2013 is to provide direct funding for specific needs of individuals stricken with ALS in the Delmarva region where services and equipment are urgently needed.
ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive illness that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movements. It is also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease for the New York Yankees baseball player who died at age 38 from this illness.
Ted is survived by Jo, his wife of 47 years; their son Philip and wife Sally of Baltimore, Md.; their daughter, Kerri and husband Dave Lempko of Amherst, N.Y. and their children, Jack and Madison. Throughout his life, his friends became his family members who enjoyed his wit, love of a good joke and his contagious drive to care for others.
He was an art teacher in the Baltimore County School System, and upon his retirement and relocation to Rehoboth Beach 18 years ago, became a floral designer for Silk and Sands and Windsor Florists. He volunteered at CAMP Rehoboth and was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church, Rehoboth Beach, and active in Missions with the Christmas Joy program and Epworth Preschool
He enjoyed antiquing, cooking, gardening, fine dining and spoiling his grandchildren.
A celebration of Ted’s Life will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 6, with a reception to follow at Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road, off northbound Coastal Highway just outside Rehoboth Beach.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the local TEAM TED, c/o Bill Quinn, 17908 Torry Pines Place, Lewes, DE 19958, or The ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, 321 Norristown Rd., Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002.
