At Boston College, Teddy became one of the pillars of the Rugby Football Club. He was the guy who would lend his shoulder when you were down, or offer his hand to pull you up when you were literally and metaphorically in the mud. Tom Halpin, one of the younger team members, put it best when he said Teddy was one of the first older team members to make him feel welcome. For Tom and so many others, Teddy was the welcoming committee, the mentor, and the friend they didn't know they needed but were so incredibly lucky to have.
Whether it was the A-side or cheering on the C and D teams, Teddy was all-in. Charlie Collins recalled how Teddy would make a point to talk about the game and offer pointers. There wasn’t a position Teddy couldn't play, nor a player he couldn't inspire. If you were new to rugby, or even if you were questioning whether or not college was the right place for you, Teddy was there to assure you that you belonged. Teddy helped Charlie find his place on the team, and his place in life.
Teddy's impact at BC extended well beyond the rugby field. He was the kind of guy who remembered your name, asked about your family, and really listened when you spoke. Stew Harris described how he felt thousands of miles away from home when he met Teddy, and yet Teddy made him feel like he was exactly where he needed to be. That was Teddy's gift: making you feel like you were home, no matter where you were. When Stew got married years later, Teddy was there, and that day became even more memorable because of his presence.
So here's what we can all take away from Teddy’s life: Be the best teammate you can be, both on and off the field. Lift others up, and never underestimate the power of a kind word or a listening ear. Teddy may have left us but his spirit, his lessons, and his charity.
The charity we're establishing in Teddy's name aims to carry forward his spirit of generosity, compassion, and mutual respect. The focus on the Teddy Charity is giving young high school and college athletes to the support they need to thrive in sports and life. Teddy believed in lifting others up, and this is our way of making sure that his unique brand of magic continues.
To borrow a rugby term, Teddy is our "prop," a foundational player in the scrum and in life, who offered stability and support. His spirit propels us forward, encouraging us to keep pushing, keep striving, and most importantly, keep caring.
Teddy's physical presence is irreplaceable, but his essence is immortal. His lessons live on in each of us—lessons of empathy, kindness, and unyielding positivity. Through this charity, we aim to turn our
