Born in Chicago on July 24, 1918, Dr. Edgar (Ted) Gifford is a 4th generation “Chicagoan.” He is a 1936 graduate of Lyons Township High School in La Grange, and a 1940 B.A. graduate of DePauw University. He was a surgical technician in the U.S. Army during World War 11. After WWII, he earned a D.D.S. (dentistry) degree from the U. of Illinois in Chicago and then practiced general dentistry in La Grange until he was 81 years old. Ted’s motto throughout his lifetime was “service above self.”
Dr. Ted Gifford founded the Rotary Club of LaGrange in 1958 and was the club’s first president. In 1964-5 he served as the “Chicagoland” Rotary District Governor and from 1981-3 he served as a member of the Board of Directors of Rotary International. In 2002, he was recipient of the Rotary District 6450 Spirit of Rotary Award and the Rotary International Service Above Self Award. In 2003, the Rotary Club of La Grange established the Ted Gifford Community Service Award to honor “unsung heroes” in La Grange for their voluntarism for community services. In the last few years, Dr. Gifford made major donations to the Polio Eradication Fund, Rotary International, and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund on behalf of his wife, Caroline Gifford.
In La Grange, Dr. Gifford served 9 years as a District 102 school board member, 7 years as a chair of the Lyons Township High School Interact Club, and he Chaired the 50th and 60th LTHS Class of 1936 reunions. He funded two annual scholarships for LTHS students and one scholarship for a student at the U. of Illinois Chicago Dental School. Ted served as President of Young Men’s Business Club, the La Grange Area Historical Society, and PLUS (community beautification organization). He was the V. President of the LaGrange Field Club (tennis and swimming) and a Director of the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce. Also, he was a life member of the Post 1941 of the American Legion. Ted was the recipient of the 2006 Community Service Award from the Southwest Suburban Center on Aging for his participation in their various programs.
Ted was married to Caroline Wilcox Gifford for 66 years. Like Ted, Caroline (1923 – 2016) was very active in various community service groups. Caroline and Ted had two children, Anne and Blair. Anne and Jerry Umbarger live in Franklin, Massachusetts and have two sons (Mike and Dr. Mark) and one grandson (Ryan). Dr. Blair and Ann Gifford live in Greenwood Village, Colorado and have two daughters (Kelsey and Taylor).
Visitation will be held Monday, August 6 from 5 to 8pm at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 7 at 10am. Interment to follow at Bronswood Cemetery, Oak Brook. In lieu of flowers, memorials given to the LaGrange Rotary Club Foundation at www.lagrangerotary.org are appreciated. Funeral Info: 708-352-6500