Ted C. Womer, second from right, with 1998 Seminary Board officers, from left, Betty A. Pettit, secretary; Dr. Robert F. Blanck, chair; and Sarah F. Roth, vice-chair.

Ted C. Womer, a devoted trustee of the Seminary who served as its treasurer the past 10 years, died Saturday, January 2, at his home in New Canaan, CT. He was 79.

Mr. Womer had been active in the life of the Seminary since 1971, when he was elected to the Seminary Board by the Executive Committee of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod on nomination of the Lutheran Church in America's Board of Theological Education. When the Board of the Seminary was reconfigured under new bylaws in 1977, he served as a non-director member of the Board's finance committee until 1988. At that time, he was elected to the Seminary Board as a regular member by the New England Synod. He was elected treasurer in 1989 and served in that capacity, as a member of the Board and on the Board's finance committee until his death.

Ted Womer was instrumental in creating the LTSP Foundation in 1995 and served on its Board of Directors since its inception. He was also key in establishing the Wagner College and Upsala/LTSP Partnership, a program that seeks to identify and support the development of persons of color or whose primary language is other than English as candidates for the ordained ministry in the church.

"Ted Womer was a dedicated and faithful servant of the church who cared passionately about the education of future leaders," said Dr. Robert G. Hughes, the Seminary's President. "He made a great difference as a member of the Seminary President's Council. The Wagner College and Upsala/LTSP Partnership was really his idea, and because of it, talented, deserving future leaders have been receiving an education they otherwise might never have pursued."

Ted Womer spent 40 years with the major retailer, J.C. Penney, retiring in 1979 as director of accounting development. His specialization was finance and management organization. A member of St. John Lutheran Church, Stamford, CT, Mr. Womer held several posts in the congregation, including council president, and chair of the finance and stewardship committee. His wife, Adele, survives, along with three grown children.