Theodore Eugene Lind

Theodore Eugene Lind, 83, was taken from us tragically and suddenly last week. His legacy is defined by his proud service as an Avionics Officer Technical Instructor in the United States Air Force, as an accomplished Manager of Advanced Engineering at Motorola, and above all, as a devoted family man to his wife, daughter, and three grandkids.

 Adopted son of Agnes Zupan and Nicholas Lind, Ted was born in 1940 and raised in Irving Park, Chicago, for most of his formative years before relocating to the rural suburb of Richmond, Illinois, shortly after starting high school. Ted graduated from Richmond-Burton Community High School in 1958 as a National Merit Scholar, prospering in his new environment. However, his achievements in high school were not limited to just academia, as his interest in photography burgeoned into a life-long passion during his role as a photographer for the school newspaper and yearbook. This change of scenery also granted him the invaluable experience of helping run his family’s newly acquired farm alongside his parents and adopted brother, Dennis “Denny” Lind.

 Qualifying for the Illinois State Scholars program, Ted leveraged this into a full-ride scholarship to the University of Illinois where he would get accepted into their rigorous LAS Physics program, a specialized set of curricula intended for those going into graduate programs for physics, as well as those that desire to work in the industry. His four years at the University of Illinois fatefully led up to him meeting the love of his life, Norma Joyce Lind, one day, on a shuttle bus for university students. They began dating exclusively soon after. Ted completed his physics course load in addition to double minors in math and chemistry, achieving his undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Illinois in 1963.

 Shortly after, Ted began his career at Oak Manufacturing in Crystal Lake, Illinois, working as an engineer on electrical relays and devices that converted DC into AC currents. This didn’t last long, however, as the draft for the Vietnam War was looming. Not leaving his fate up to chance, Ted marched into an Air Force recruiting office in Crystal Lake where he signed up to become an Avionics Officer. Ted married his then-girlfriend, Norma, in 1963, almost immediately after he completed Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

 The newly married couple then moved to Ted’s next assignment as an Air Force serviceman, Avionics Training School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. Enjoying many of the scenic places the area had to offer, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, and Golden Colorado, this served as an extended honeymoon for Ted and Norma. Once he had completed his training, Ted was offered an instructor position as an Avionics Officer. This led to the couple remaining in Denver over the next four years, with occasional temporary assignments in places like Biloxi, Mississippi, that allowed them to see the country and spend some time with friends.

 At the end of his four-year career in the Air Force, Ted landed a job with Motorola almost immediately. The blessings continued as the couple welcomed their first and only child, Christine Lind, to the world on June 12th, 1968. Purchasing his first home in 1973, Ted and his wife chose the quiet and walkable western Chicago suburb of Lombard as a place to raise their child and begin their life as a family. The family spent much of their time traveling, camping, and seeing friends. It was also during this time that Ted made his mark at Motorola by developing new methods and designs that secured him six government patents with the US Patent and Trademark Office. His many patents included contributions to physics in the form of piezoelectric resonators and new methods for quartz crystal synthesis. After achieving his master’s in business administration from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Ted began to climb the corporate ladder at Motorola, making many lifelong friends and connections along the way.

 Ted worked at Motorola for 32 years until his division was bought out and he retired from his role as Manager of Advanced Engineering in 1999. As his many employees, managers, and co-workers can attest, his dedication to his job was matched only by his natural curiosity and unparalleled people skills. His retirement did not signal the end of his professional life, however, as he joined the volunteer staff of the People’s Resource Center in Wheaton, Illinois, that same year. Volunteering in the capacity of Computer Access and Training Manager, he served the community of Wheaton and the broader community of DuPage County for 25 years before COVID restrictions and remote work eventually made it impractical for him to continue at this position. 

 After championing the ideals of patriotism, hard work, and generosity for over 50 years, Ted eventually resigned himself to the quiet life of taking care of his wife Norma and spending more time with his daughter and grandkids. In his retirement, he loved to spend Sunday dinners with his family, researching new developments in technology and world affairs, photographing a wide variety of subject matter (mostly his family and friends), and meeting up with his group of friends from Motorola. No matter the role he was in, Ted always managed to find a way to relate to others, demonstrate genuine empathy, and be an inspiration to everyone around him. His candid spirit and unfailing kindness were two things everybody knew him for, and he lived that way until the very end.

 He is survived by his daughter, Christine Lind Robertson, and her three sons; Ethan, Aidan, and Declan Robertson. His profound impact on all of their lives was something every father and grandfather aspires to, and even in death, their memory of him will be one that is both lasting and incorruptible.

 Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 4th from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, at Davenport Family Funeral Home located at 419 E Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, Illinois. A funeral service will be held on the same day and location at 3:00 PM. Burial will be at Crystal Lake Memorial Park (8012 Ridgefield Rd, Crystal Lake IL) at 10:00 AM Monday. All are welcome to offer their condolences in person, sending flowers, or making a donation in his name to a charitable cause. Ted would appreciate donations to the Little City Foundation which specializes in helping children and adults with disabilities as well as the People’s Resource Center of Wheaton, the community outreach program he volunteered for. Memorials, tributes, and gifts to the People’s Resource Center can be made online, by mail, or by telephone.