Obituary
Theologue Ted Hatzimanolis
Theologue Ted Hatzimanolis died in the morning hours of June 11, 2012 at the age of 96.
He was born to Fotis and Pelagia Hatzimanolis on the island of Mytiline, Greece on September 9, 1915. Ted joined his brother, Menelaus, and sister, Metaxia. At the age of one and a half his family immigrated to New York to escape World War I eventually settling in Boston. His brother, George, was born two years later.
Ted graduated from Boston English High School during the Depression. He worked various jobs to help support his family during this time. In 1936 he joined the CCCs in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ted received a scholarship and began his studies in Forest Management at Colorado A & M. In September1941 he was drafted and sent to Hawaii. Later, after training at Ft. Belvoir, Ted was commissioned an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers. During his military career he was awarded battle stars for Pearl Harbor and all major campaigns in northern Europe which included D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, and others for a total of six battle stars.
In February 1944 Ted met Marjorie and the two made plans to be married. The invasion of France delayed their marriage. On May 7, 1945, while on combat leave, the two were married in Somerset, England. As they came out of the church, all the bells in England were ringing Germany had surrendered. Within twenty-four hours Ted was back in Germany. Within three months he was in Marseilles, France ready to invade Japan. The A-bomb was dropped at Hiroshima and Japan surrendered.
Ted went back to college to finish his studies in Forest Management. Marjorie joined him here in the States in April 1946. Upon graduation he began his career as a professional forester with the United States Forest Service. This took him to Montana, Colorado, the Dakotas, Arizona, Medicine Bow, Wyoming, and then on to California. Ted was a District Ranger for the Redwood Ranger District in Klamath before working for a short period of time for the Redwood National Park from which he retired in 1980.
Teds three loves were his loving wife of 67 years, Marjorie; their family: daughter, Elaine Ghidinelli; son, Phillip Hatzimanolis; daughter and husband Carol and Clar Byers along with his grandchildren: Jerry and Malinda Hatzimanolis, Brian (Jennifer) Ghidinelli, Steven (Michelle) Ghidinelli, and Colin and Lauren Byers. Remember to enjoy each others company. His third love was his profession as a forest scientist.
Private family services will be held with full military honors at the Del Norte County Veterans Cemetery.
Ted was an avid reader and lover of books. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Del Norte County Public Library, PO Box 1547, Crescent city, CA 95531