With a heavy heart I must report that the great Ted Lee passed away on July 21, 2016. Ted was a long-time baseball card dealer in the Chicago area and a good friend. I first met Ted in the early 1990s when he was promoting card shows. Back then, I found Ted's phone number in a Beckett Baseball Monthly Magazine and reserved a table. When I arrived at the show, I learned it wasn't a baseball card show but, rather, a NASCAR show. I was very disappointed and did not stay very long. Years later, we had a laugh over that one.
For the past decade or so, I was lucky enough to set up next to Ted or near Ted on a monthly basis at the Fred Copp shows in the Chicago area. Ted was a regular dealer with Fred, setting up each week. I was always greeted with a smile each time I saw Ted.
He collected baseball cards as a kid from the mid-1960's through the early 1970's. Over the years, I bought much of his childhood collection. Ted preferred modern cards to vintage and was happy to unload his old cards.
When he wasn't selling sports cards, Ted worked for a company in Des Plaines, Illinois, handcrafting furniture. Ted enjoyed woodworking. Knowing he was skilled with his hands, I regularly hit him up for tips on how to fix stuff around my house. Unlike Ted, I have no ability to construct or fix anything. Ted was always generous with his knowledge and set me on the right path for a host of projects around my house.
Ted was born on Februrary 20, 1956, in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He grew up a Chicago sports fan and avidly followed the Cubs, Bears and Blackhawks. I loved seeing his tables at the card shows stocked with all the current Chicago players. I was surprised when he told me that Chicago Blackhawk cards did not sell well. I would have figured those would be his best sellers with the recent success of the Hawks.
There was a time when Ted and I sat around the shows and discussed our issues with selling cards on eBay. We both seemed to have the same issues with the site and with customers. Ted eventually got so frustrated with the fee increases and with complaints from customers who didn't receive their cards yesterday that he stopped selling on eBay. He brought me the remainder of his bubble envelopes which I am still using today.
A few years ago, I created a Fred Copp Sports Card Shows page on Facebook to help promote Fred's shows. As a regular dealer, Ted quickly appreciated the page and volunteered to help. He quickly took over the page and we both enjoyed watching it grow. He last posted on the page a few days before he died. I am going to try and keep the page up in Ted's honor.
Ted then created a Midwest Sports Card Shows page on Facebook to help promote other shows in the area. He made me an administrator and I need to make a better effort at maintaining that page.
I also have a Fat Daddy's page on Facebook. I will miss the occasional wise crack that Ted would post to my page. He had a great sense of humor.
While we always shared a good laugh at the shows, there was a seriousness about Ted these past few years as his wife Judy bravely fought cancer. Judy died last summer.
Ted and Judy have two children, Brandon and Tosha. They also have three grandchildren. Ted was so proud of his grandchildren. He always had photos to share.
I am going to miss seeing the photos. I am going to miss seeing Ted, his smile, jokes, complaints, observations and his friendship. I thank my lucky stars that I had a chance to know Ted. I know he was suffering physically these past few months and emotionally this past year, I am thankful to know he is now at peace.
Good bye Ted and thank you for your friendship. You were much appreciated.
Funeral Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 6, 2016, at Gross Point Church, 27430 W. Nippersink Road, Ingleside, Illinois.
For the past decade or so, I was lucky enough to set up next to Ted or near Ted on a monthly basis at the Fred Copp shows in the Chicago area. Ted was a regular dealer with Fred, setting up each week. I was always greeted with a smile each time I saw Ted.
He collected baseball cards as a kid from the mid-1960's through the early 1970's. Over the years, I bought much of his childhood collection. Ted preferred modern cards to vintage and was happy to unload his old cards.
When he wasn't selling sports cards, Ted worked for a company in Des Plaines, Illinois, handcrafting furniture. Ted enjoyed woodworking. Knowing he was skilled with his hands, I regularly hit him up for tips on how to fix stuff around my house. Unlike Ted, I have no ability to construct or fix anything. Ted was always generous with his knowledge and set me on the right path for a host of projects around my house.
Ted was born on Februrary 20, 1956, in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He grew up a Chicago sports fan and avidly followed the Cubs, Bears and Blackhawks. I loved seeing his tables at the card shows stocked with all the current Chicago players. I was surprised when he told me that Chicago Blackhawk cards did not sell well. I would have figured those would be his best sellers with the recent success of the Hawks.
There was a time when Ted and I sat around the shows and discussed our issues with selling cards on eBay. We both seemed to have the same issues with the site and with customers. Ted eventually got so frustrated with the fee increases and with complaints from customers who didn't receive their cards yesterday that he stopped selling on eBay. He brought me the remainder of his bubble envelopes which I am still using today.
A few years ago, I created a Fred Copp Sports Card Shows page on Facebook to help promote Fred's shows. As a regular dealer, Ted quickly appreciated the page and volunteered to help. He quickly took over the page and we both enjoyed watching it grow. He last posted on the page a few days before he died. I am going to try and keep the page up in Ted's honor.
Ted then created a Midwest Sports Card Shows page on Facebook to help promote other shows in the area. He made me an administrator and I need to make a better effort at maintaining that page.
I also have a Fat Daddy's page on Facebook. I will miss the occasional wise crack that Ted would post to my page. He had a great sense of humor.
While we always shared a good laugh at the shows, there was a seriousness about Ted these past few years as his wife Judy bravely fought cancer. Judy died last summer.
Ted and Judy have two children, Brandon and Tosha. They also have three grandchildren. Ted was so proud of his grandchildren. He always had photos to share.
I am going to miss seeing the photos. I am going to miss seeing Ted, his smile, jokes, complaints, observations and his friendship. I thank my lucky stars that I had a chance to know Ted. I know he was suffering physically these past few months and emotionally this past year, I am thankful to know he is now at peace.
Good bye Ted and thank you for your friendship. You were much appreciated.
Funeral Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 6, 2016, at Gross Point Church, 27430 W. Nippersink Road, Ingleside, Illinois.
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