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<p><em>Edward Paul “Ted” Cattron</em> was born on the 4th of July, 1944, in Sharon, PA. I am convinced that God discarded the model on that day.</p>
<p>Ted entered West Point in July 1962 and graduated with us in June 1966. He was a fantastic, great guy with an eternal smile and a can-do attitude.</p>
<p>My name is Cameron Ely, and I’m from Oregon. Ted was my roommate at West Point for a couple of years. We enjoyed a lot of mischievousness. Cross country, wrestling and academic survival were our focus. But, somehow, I felt it was entertainment for Ted. He could explain electricity to the commoner like no other. Contour maps were to Ted like comics were to the rest of us.</p>
<p>I soon realized why he liked tennis so much. Ted met his future wife, Karen Kebaugh, a primary school teacher, on the tennis courts. After graduation came Ranger School and Jump School. We were teammates there as well. Lucky me. He was a map reading wizard and the primary reason many of us survived Recondo and Ranger School.</p>
<p>Ted and Karen were finally married in 1967. A month later he was off to Vietnam, where he was assigned to be a platoon leader in the 11th Air Group in the 1st Air Cavalry Division. Upon completion of that tour and completing a stay at Fort Carson, CO, Pathfinder School, and fixed-wing training, it was back to Vietnam, where he achieved a longtime desire to fly. He served twice as a company commander in the prestigious 82d Airborne Division.</p>
<p>Ted’s firstborn son, Matt, arrived while he was in combat, and Matt didn’t get to meet his dad until he was six months old. </p>
<p>During two tours in Vietnam, Ed earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart.</p>
<p>Matt remembers Ted as a very impressive man, but you would never hear that from Ted. He was so humble and just exuded goodness and kindness. “My Dad’s service, and then his career with Kodak, is the stuff of legend. I know that the professional achievement he was most proud of are the top-secret projects that he was heavily involved in for many years. The work he did for our nation within those projects was incredibly important for our intelligence and frankly, our national security.</p>
<p>“As a father and grandfather, Ted was a wonderful mentor, teacher, leader, and role model. I know my brother Mark and I both hope we can offer half as much to our families as he gave to us. He was also my Scout leader, and we learned so much from him.”</p>
<p>Ted’s second son, Mark, was born just before Ted resigned his commission in 1973. </p>
<p>He then joined Eastman Kodak as a development engineer, earning his master’s degree in management of technology.</p>
<p>Over the next 28 years he enjoyed watching his family grow and flourish. He joined in all the boy’s Scouting events as they worked toward their Eagle Scout rank. He also did his share of watching his five grandsons. </p>
<p>Jerry Wasilewski reflects on having known Ted Cattron for over 35 years at Kodak: “He had always been a very personable, honest, objective, and sincere friend, husband and father who knew how to balance home life with work life as a technical manager. </p>
<p>“That comradery of support turned into a long, ongoing close friendship over the subsequent years, during which we enjoyed racquetball after work, periodic ‘happy hour’ socials over the years and into retirement with other work friends, and informal gatherings with our families.</p>
<p> “As Ed began to regress in life, we continued to keep in touch at his home and then at his nursing ‘apartment’ home, up until he completed his calling to God. I look forward to meeting up with him again at our eternal heavenly home.”</p>
<p>Mark’s earliest memories of his Dad revolve around Ted’s commitment to his family, his work ethic, and his honesty and integrity in all walks of life. </p>
<p>Ted’s ability to focus on the task at hand while surrounded by the constant buzz of family and work life proved invaluable in his career. He was their go-to “Mr. Fix-it.” Karen recollects that Ted never showed the boys how to fix anything but showed them how to build it in the first place. As Mark became a homeowner and father, Ted continued to teach his sons the value of honesty, hard work and kindness that we all can only hope that we have passed on to our families. </p>
<p>Ted’s love of aviation showed throughout raising his boys, as they shared many trips to the local field to build and fly radio-controlled planes. Ted was also their scout leader for several years, and they enjoyed multiple hikes in the Northeast, including climbing Mount Marcy and Mount Washington. Ted spent many weekends at USS swim meets. </p>
<p>Ted was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009 but remained active until three years ago, when the dementia robbed him of his mobility and speech. Ted passed on October 2, 2024.</p>
<p>Ted and Karen had 57 wonderful years—never to be forgotten. </p>
<p>Karen, Matt, Mark, and all Ted’s classmates and friends desperately miss him and his wonderful smile.</p>
<p><em>— Family, Business Associates and Friends</em></p>
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