Theodore Chandler (Teddy) Howes died Sept. 14. He was 61.

He was born on Dec. 5, 1959, in Waterloo, N.Y.

Although he had no children, Teddy very much kept his inner child alive. He loved to share tales, educate others, ponder time, fish all night, troll the north shore, feel the music, hit a ball, and share limericks. If there was a pun to be had, a book to read, a car to fix, a project to do, a splinter to be found, Teddy was on it. He might ask you to shut up and listen to the sounds around you or try to communicate with the mourning doves, constantly engaging with nature around him. A quirky spider-looking fellow with a big heart, strong mind, and a trick up his sleeve, somehow you couldn’t help but explore life with this guy.

Inspired by Jacques Cousteau, Teddy became an oceanographic engineer, who toured the Atlantic, dove on reefs, collected fossils and sometimes eerie bones. But nothing got his blood moving like sports, muscle cars, and politics, although the latter wasn’t as jovial. He was easy to banter with; he made you laugh, he made you think and he was always exploring. Moved deeply by human emotion, he could go from tears to doubling over or into deep thought. He loved life and was blessed with an incredible mind.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sarah Shafer Howes, their pup Elsea, as well as his sister Suzanne and countless friends and family.

He will be missed by many but due to the times, services will be private.

Donations can be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby scholarship fund, P.O. Box 2101, Edgartown, MA 02539.

Let’s support those interested in ocean engineering, and/or anything salty, as Teddy had done the same.

Help us forever honor Teddy by sharing limericks and listening to nature. Tight lines, are you a turtle?