Images by
Ray Haskell
Site by
Susan Clarke Haskell
Life Members of the
HASKELL FAMILY ASSOCIATION
© 2005-2008
Any commercial use of material found here is expressly forbidden.
Ray Haskell
Site by
Susan Clarke Haskell
Life Members of the
HASKELL FAMILY ASSOCIATION
© 2005-2008
Any commercial use of material found here is expressly forbidden.
Theodore James Haskell 1926-2007
...Obituary
Theodore J. Haskell, Lansing, MI
Former Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Lansing and MSU Professor of Park & Recreation Resources, Theodore James Haskell passed away quietly on February 20, 2007. Mr. Haskell was born October 11, 1926, in Chicago, IL the son of the late Ted James Haskell and Grace Hasenstab Haskell. Surviving are his beloved wife of 56 years, Barbara “Bobbie” Bible Haskell; daughter, Judith Lee Haskell (William) Gearing of Roanoke, VA; son, Bruce James (Laurie) Haskell of Charlotte, MI and daughter, Rebecca Lynn Haskell (William) Potts of Haddonfield, NJ; brother, Rev. Donald Philip (Janet) Haskell of Midland, MI; sister, Dian Haskell (Tom) Wurdock of Royal Oak, MI; grandchildren, Kyle and Jenny Haskell, and Erin, Joseph, Thomas and Lauren Potts; and nieces and nephews.
Ted grew up in Royal Oak, MI and after serving in the U.S. Army in 1944-1945 as a paratrooper and demolition specialist, enrolled at MSU under the G.I. Bill. In 1949 he received his Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Recreational and Municipal Forestry. He later obtained his Masters degree in Park & Recreation Administration, also from MSU. With his Forestry degree in hand, Ted talked former Lansing parks director, Carl Fenner into hiring him in 1949, where he began his career with the city trimming trees. ("One of the few jobs where you start at the top and work your way down”, he liked to say.) In 1959, Ted became the chief City Forester; in 1962, Assistant Director and in 1972, the Director of Parks and Recreation. In 1976, after 27 years with the city, Ted was asked to join the faculty of his alma mater, MSU, as Associate Professor 1976-1984 and then Full Professor 1984-1992 in the Department of Park and Recreation Resources and as Extension Specialist. In extension work he served in 75 of the 83 Michigan counties. Ted retired from MSU in 1992 and enjoyed traveling and Elderhostels with wife Bobbie.
During his four decades of work in the parks and recreation field, he authored and co-authored numerous professional articles and technical reports and lectured extensively throughout Michigan, others states, and in 1983, in Great Britain. He served on the Mayor’s River Watershed Council as Chairman, 1966-1976. Participated in the planning, development and construction of Lansing’s Riverfront Park, organized and directed the Dutch Elm Disease Control Program for the City of Lansing, 1956-1976. Organized and directed the planning, construction and development of Gier and Kingsley Community Centers and Davis Park. As a professor he believed strongly in simulation/gaming as an educational tool, developing the “Futures Game” and “Everton Project”. Professional memberships included: the National Recreation and Park Association, Michigan Recreation and Park Association, Michigan Forestry and Park Association, American Management Association, International Society of Arboriculture and the American Horticultural Society. He was a member of MSU’s Scabbard & Blade (Fencing Society) and a scholastic fraternity Pi Kappa Phi.
A man of deep faith, religion has been the anchor of his life, and the members of Pilgrim Congregational Church his steadfast friends during the 52 years he and Bobbie have been active members. In addition to his professional endeavors, Ted thrived on what life offered, making him an avid reader, computer enthusiast, a diorama/miniature maker, “war gamer”, drawer/painter, family board game maker, supporter of the Boy Scouts, a hiker/camper, public speaker, church deacon, trustee, moderator, square dance caller and dancer, bagpiper, golfer and most of all: a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
He will be missed dearly, and comfort is found in the words of his favorite author J.R.R. Tolkien, “The road goes ever on and on”, as well as his own words, “Do not think of this as the end, just “To Be Continued!” Memorial contributions may be made to Pilgrim Congregational Church, U.C.C., 125 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing, MI 48912. The family will receive friends at Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes, 900 E. Michigan Ave on Friday, February 23 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Pilgrim Congregational Church on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Peter Robinson officiating. There will be visitation at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be immediately following at Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing, Michigan.
Published in the Lansing State Journal - February 22, 2007
Postscript......
Former Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Lansing and MSU Professor of Park & Recreation Resources, Theodore James Haskell passed away quietly on February 20, 2007. Mr. Haskell was born October 11, 1926, in Chicago, IL the son of the late Ted James Haskell and Grace Hasenstab Haskell. Surviving are his beloved wife of 56 years, Barbara “Bobbie” Bible Haskell; daughter, Judith Lee Haskell (William) Gearing of Roanoke, VA; son, Bruce James (Laurie) Haskell of Charlotte, MI and daughter, Rebecca Lynn Haskell (William) Potts of Haddonfield, NJ; brother, Rev. Donald Philip (Janet) Haskell of Midland, MI; sister, Dian Haskell (Tom) Wurdock of Royal Oak, MI; grandchildren, Kyle and Jenny Haskell, and Erin, Joseph, Thomas and Lauren Potts; and nieces and nephews.
Ted grew up in Royal Oak, MI and after serving in the U.S. Army in 1944-1945 as a paratrooper and demolition specialist, enrolled at MSU under the G.I. Bill. In 1949 he received his Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Recreational and Municipal Forestry. He later obtained his Masters degree in Park & Recreation Administration, also from MSU. With his Forestry degree in hand, Ted talked former Lansing parks director, Carl Fenner into hiring him in 1949, where he began his career with the city trimming trees. ("One of the few jobs where you start at the top and work your way down”, he liked to say.) In 1959, Ted became the chief City Forester; in 1962, Assistant Director and in 1972, the Director of Parks and Recreation. In 1976, after 27 years with the city, Ted was asked to join the faculty of his alma mater, MSU, as Associate Professor 1976-1984 and then Full Professor 1984-1992 in the Department of Park and Recreation Resources and as Extension Specialist. In extension work he served in 75 of the 83 Michigan counties. Ted retired from MSU in 1992 and enjoyed traveling and Elderhostels with wife Bobbie.
During his four decades of work in the parks and recreation field, he authored and co-authored numerous professional articles and technical reports and lectured extensively throughout Michigan, others states, and in 1983, in Great Britain. He served on the Mayor’s River Watershed Council as Chairman, 1966-1976. Participated in the planning, development and construction of Lansing’s Riverfront Park, organized and directed the Dutch Elm Disease Control Program for the City of Lansing, 1956-1976. Organized and directed the planning, construction and development of Gier and Kingsley Community Centers and Davis Park. As a professor he believed strongly in simulation/gaming as an educational tool, developing the “Futures Game” and “Everton Project”. Professional memberships included: the National Recreation and Park Association, Michigan Recreation and Park Association, Michigan Forestry and Park Association, American Management Association, International Society of Arboriculture and the American Horticultural Society. He was a member of MSU’s Scabbard & Blade (Fencing Society) and a scholastic fraternity Pi Kappa Phi.
A man of deep faith, religion has been the anchor of his life, and the members of Pilgrim Congregational Church his steadfast friends during the 52 years he and Bobbie have been active members. In addition to his professional endeavors, Ted thrived on what life offered, making him an avid reader, computer enthusiast, a diorama/miniature maker, “war gamer”, drawer/painter, family board game maker, supporter of the Boy Scouts, a hiker/camper, public speaker, church deacon, trustee, moderator, square dance caller and dancer, bagpiper, golfer and most of all: a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
He will be missed dearly, and comfort is found in the words of his favorite author J.R.R. Tolkien, “The road goes ever on and on”, as well as his own words, “Do not think of this as the end, just “To Be Continued!” Memorial contributions may be made to Pilgrim Congregational Church, U.C.C., 125 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing, MI 48912. The family will receive friends at Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes, 900 E. Michigan Ave on Friday, February 23 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Pilgrim Congregational Church on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Peter Robinson officiating. There will be visitation at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be immediately following at Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing, Michigan.
Published in the Lansing State Journal - February 22, 2007
Postscript......
I just recently saw your posting regarding my fathers passing. It does my heart (and his I’m sure) good to see that he was respected in the gaming community. I would very much like to maintain contact with those who held him in such high regard. In the near future I will be reviewing his personal collection of miniatures, books, and periodicals that were very important to him and the hobby. My sisters and I would want the collection to be passed on to those who appreciate the gaming, and the love for authenticity, historic accuracy and significance that miniature gaming provides. I personally spent many hours with my father from the basics of H.G. Wells rules, to the complex Column, Line, and Square system and developed an understanding of what it all meant to him.
Yes, we were remiss in not having some of his collection or photos at the funeral but times like that move quickly and you hope to do it as best you can. My personal interest in gaming was not as intense as his but nonetheless active. When my son was younger it was the evolution of bedtime stories that led to the Warrior King legend and the resulting wargames that took place at my home, albeit on a less grand scale than the re-creation of the Battle of Waterloo that my father did.
Regardless, over the next year I will be organizing the collection and after my sisters and I retrieve specific items of personal significance, the rest will be made available. It would seem fitting that a table at Spartacon would be a venue for the true gamers to obtain items of such a gaming pioneer. I do not want this to sound like a greedy fire sale and am not looking to make a fortune on any of this, but desire to keep the collection in the hands of others to be passed on to future gamers.
Sincerely, Bruce Haskell
Just as an aside
I happened to drive past the City of Lansing’s Parks & Rec Headquarters the other day. It was formerly known as Oak Park Station.
It has been re-named the “Theodore J. Haskell” Building.
Yes, we were remiss in not having some of his collection or photos at the funeral but times like that move quickly and you hope to do it as best you can. My personal interest in gaming was not as intense as his but nonetheless active. When my son was younger it was the evolution of bedtime stories that led to the Warrior King legend and the resulting wargames that took place at my home, albeit on a less grand scale than the re-creation of the Battle of Waterloo that my father did.
Regardless, over the next year I will be organizing the collection and after my sisters and I retrieve specific items of personal significance, the rest will be made available. It would seem fitting that a table at Spartacon would be a venue for the true gamers to obtain items of such a gaming pioneer. I do not want this to sound like a greedy fire sale and am not looking to make a fortune on any of this, but desire to keep the collection in the hands of others to be passed on to future gamers.
Sincerely, Bruce Haskell
Just as an aside
I happened to drive past the City of Lansing’s Parks & Rec Headquarters the other day. It was formerly known as Oak Park Station.
It has been re-named the “Theodore J. Haskell” Building.