Dr. Theodore L. Provo, 73, of 18 Laurel Lane, died on February 8, 2010, at Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA. Ted was the son of the late Theodore L. and Mernie (Patterson) Provo. He was born in Worcester, MA. on May 25, 1936.
He leaves his wife of 30 years, Lucia (Dowgielewicz) Provo, his son Christopher and his wife Pamela of Shrewsbury, his daughter Carol Ann and her husband Hugh Zeitlin of Bridgewater, his stepdaughter Laurie J. Drazek and her partner Kristine Binette of Paxton and his grandson Theodore G. Provo (Teddy) of Shrewsbury, who was his pride and joy. He leaves two brothers, Bruce and his wife Gail of Leicester and Wayne of Plymouth. A son, Theodore L. Provo, III, his sister, Jane Brockway and a brother David Provo predeceased him.
Ted graduated from Leicester High and Leicester Junior College with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. He went to Worcester State College where he received a BS in Secondary Science Education. He taught and coached football at Millis and Hull High Schools. Ted received his Masters Degree in Education from Worcester State College and went on to Kansas to work on his Education Specialist Degree at Kansas University while serving as principal at Nortonville-Winchester Unified District #339. He became superintendent of schools there while working on his Doctorate Degree at Kansas State University. He received his degree in Education Administration and soon after became Assistant Academic Dean and Director of the Education Program at the Benedictine College in Atchinson, Kansas. He returned to Massachusetts, attended the Harvard University Senior Management Program, while serving as Dean of the Institute for Community Services at Worcester State College. As Dean, he developed the graduate program in Education Administration for Principals and Superintendents.
Ted then went to Wayne, New Jersey as Dean of the School of Education at William Patterson College. From New Jersey, he returned to Massachusetts where he was President at Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, MA. Following his presidency at Greenfield he went to Tortola, British Virgin Islands and founded a Community College for the British Government.
After retirement, he returned to Massachusetts where he taught graduate courses at Assumption College and Anna Maria College. He served on the School Building Committee for the Wire Village School, Spencer, MA. Most recently he was elected to the Alumni Board at Worcester State College where he served until his death.
The funeral will be held Friday, February 12 from the J. HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terr., with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 7 Church St., Spencer. Calling hours are Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Mary, Queen of the Rosary Cemetery, Spencer. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA. 01701.