Theodore D. Gaal “Ted”

Cambridge  Theodore Daniel Gaal, 91.The family wishes to announce that on Thursday, December 31, 2009, Theodore Daniel Gaal went home to be with the Lord.  His death occurred at Albany Medical Center after a very brief illness.  He was the beloved husband of Alice (Smith) Dawley Gaal.

Born on Thursday, May 30, 1918 in New York City, he was the son of Theodore and Rose (Schalk) Gaal.  After graduating from high school and completing two years of college, Ted joined the United States Navy.  At the time of his discharge in December 1945, he held the rank of Aviation Metalsmith Second Class.

Ted married E. Marie Williams in 1940. They lived in Huntington, L. I. where they raised their family of five children.

Ted worked in the contract pricing department at Grumman Aeronautics (now Northrop Grumman) in Bethpage, L. I. He specialized in working on US Navy contracts.  He retired at the age of 56 in 1974.

Seeking a less populated and healthier environment for themselves and the two youngest children,  Ted and Marie bought property and built a home in Cambridge in 1969.  Although Ted “commuted” to Long Island for five years, the wonderful views and the serene setting on King Road made it all worthwhile.

Ted and Marie both worked for the United Farm Agency as real estate brokers for the Cambridge area.  Ted also drove a school bus for Cambridge Central School.

The year 1985 was a very difficult year for Ted.  Both his wife Marie and their oldest daughter Georgiana (Gaal) Schamens died of cancer the same week.  Another blow fell in 1987 when their son, Lawrence E. Gaal also died of cancer.

Happiness again came into Ted’s life when he married Ester (Arnott )Davenport Gaal on July 5, 1986.  They had many good times together until her death in August, 1992.

God was again good to Ted when he gave him another good wife.  On September 3, 1993, he married Alice and they have been together for 16 years.  They shared the sadness of her son’s (James M. Dawley) death in 2005.

Ted was a devout Christian who spent much time during his life reading the Bible and praying.  He and his family joined the Coila Church when they moved to Cambridge making him a member for over 40 years.

A Free & Accepted Mason, Ted was initiated into Jephta Lodge #494 in 1944.  He transferred his membership to the Cambridge- Salem Lodge #481 in 1982.

He was a member of the Greenwich Elks for several years, the Grumman Retiree’s Club and Cambridge Senior Citizens.

Ted was an avid golfer, playing at Windy Hills Golf Course several times a week.  He was proud of his abilities and loved to remind fellow golfers of his advanced age.

Along with his wife Alice, he is survived by three children, Geraldine Gaal of New York City, Theodore A. Gaal of Cheshire, CT and Arlene Sanchez-Vinas of Elizabethton, TN; five grandchildren; a great-grandson; a sister, Rose Black of Knoxville, TN; six step-children, Della (Davenport) McLenithan, Sue, Ronald, Thomas and Dennis Dawley and Nancy (Dawley) Bates; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

Friends and relatives are invited to call on Sunday, January 3, 2010 from 2 to 3 PM at the Coila Church, State Route 272, Cambridge.  The funeral service will follow at 3 PM.

There will be a Masonic service at 2 PM.

There will be a graveside service with military honors at 10 AM on Monday, January 4, 2010 at Woodlands Cemetery, Cambridge.

The family requests memorial donations be made to The Coila Church, State Route 372, Cambridge, NY 12816.