Theodore “Ted” Griesinger

Ted Griesinger, 84, of Vero Beach, Fl. passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on January 11, 2014. He was the son of Theodore and Mary Griesinger and grew up in Penn Yan, NY.

A gifted athlete, Ted had an opportunity to pitch for the New York Giants but instead enrolled at West Point. After graduating in 1951, he attended the Artillery School at Fort Sill, Ok., Airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga., then joined the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. In 1953, Ted was posted to the 5th Regimental Combat Team in Korea, serving as Battery Commander in the 555 Field Artillery Battalion, and was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service.

Returning from Korea, Ted began a business career. Recruited by a Booz Allen subsidiary, Ted relocated to Abadan, Iran serving as Technical Advisor to the Managing Director of the Iranian Oil Company. In 1963, he moved to London to supervise consulting engineering companies in the design of a deep-water crude oil terminal in the Persian Gulf. He later founded his own engineering company providing engineering services principally to the middle-east oil producing countries for over a decade.

After relocating his family back to the U.S. in Needham MA, Ted formed International Training and Education Company (ITECO) providing education and training programs in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

His love of the Finger Lakes Region inspired him to invest in Glenora Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake, and serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Keuka College where he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Boston University as well as Chairman of the Board of the Maguire Group, Inc.

Ted is survived by his wife, Elizabeth of 57 years; daughter, Sharon Rossi-Ashton (Stephen) of Somerset, UK and granddaughter Rebecca; daughter, Cynthia Stocker (Wendell) of Bennington, NH; son, Paul Griesinger (Leann) of Concord, MA; sister, Gretchen Butkus of Melbourne FL; brother, Fredric Griesinger of Santa Barbara CA; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, January 24h at St. Augustine Of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 75 43rd Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32968.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to VNA Hospice Care, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL or Veterans Council Vero Beach, 1800 27th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960.