Theodore “Ted” Covert, 96, beloved husband for 70 years of Virginia (Sturges) Covert and longtime resident of West Boylston, MA, Mont Vernon, Amherst and Wakefield NH, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Monday, June 8, 2026.

Theodore Budd Covert was born on May 1,1930, in the village of Lodi, NY. He was the 2nd son of the late Arthur and Helen (Rutt) Covert. Ted and his brother Arthur grew up on Seneca Lake, and this is where his love of lake life began. He built speed boats and raced them up and down the lake with his friends. He enjoyed baseball in his school years and graduated from the regional Odessa High School, Class of 1948. His passion for building led to his first job as a diesel mechanic for a school bus transportation company. There he honed his skills while maintaining the fleet of buses for a few years after high school.

Ted joined the Navy in 1951 and served 4 years active-duty during the Korean war, primarily on the LST-664 transport carrier. While stationed another four years in non-active service in Virginia, he met his wife-to-be, Virginia Sturges, of Baltimore, on a blind date. They married on August 13, 1955 in Wilmington DE. Ted graduated from Alfred University (Alfred, NY) in 1960 with a degree in Ceramic Engineering. In the early 1960s, Ted and Ginny welcomed their two children, Amy and Harold, into their home in West Boylston, MA. He enjoyed an innovative 30-year career with Norton Company, starting in Worcester MA (1960-1978) and later in Milford NH (1978-1992). He was instrumental in developing an industry standard ignitor used in gas powered appliances.

A tenacious engineer, Ted could fix, design, build or restore most anything -- from small to large engines of all types and from small DIY projects to complete homes. Holding fast to the depression-era motto -- “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without," – and with his understanding of engines, Ted never bought a boat or car new. In his unique love language, he was known for checking everyone's oil before they left his house. He designed and built their lake cottage on Pine River Pond (PRP, Wakefield NH) that his family still enjoys 58 years later.

In his retirement in the early 1990s, Ted further refined his master craftsmanship again to benefit his kids and grandkids. He helped build Amy and Glenn’s beautiful PRP lake home on the point, and kept all the tractors and machinery going at Hal’s Piermont, NH farm for years. He also loved creating exquisite woodworking of all kinds – bookshelves, cabinets, cutting boards, canopy beds, and other furniture.

An ever-devoted husband, Dad, and Grampy, Ted’s family mattered the most to him. For years he was active in scouting and baseball with Hal. He instilled his life’s passion for the lake, family and nature into Amy. Ted even tackled downhill skiing, at age 40, so his family could ski together in the mountains of New Hampshire. He will forever be remembered for his infamous shrimp scampi he made for many special Covert occasions.

Perhaps most importantly, Ted gifted his family Pine River Pond. He taught his kids to drive boats, sail, water ski, canoe, and well appreciate the loons. He taught his granddaughters to fish - taking them out on the pontoon and catching “Walter” the big bass under the dock, as well as collecting shark’s teeth on the beaches of Venice, FL, where he and Ginny had the pleasure of wintering for many years. His favorite part of the day was taking his family on a post-dinner ‘snooze cruise’ on his pontoon boat. Ultimately, Ted blended his love of family and lake, which began with the PRP camp he built in 1968; and has blossomed into 4 more family lake homes securing his legacy. Always a very special place to him, Pine River Pond is where he will now rest eternally, aptly overseeing his tribe at Lords Gate.

Ted Covert was predeceased by his parents and brother. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Virginia; his daughter Amy (Covert) Bloom, and her husband, Glenn, (Natick MA); and son, Harold “Hal” Covert (Piermont, NH). He will also be sorely missed by his 5 cherished granddaughters Emily (and husband, Danny) Rodriguez, Sarah (and husband, Ben) Kendrew; Alyvia, Etta and Joia Covert, as well as 3 great-grandchildren, Amelia, Eliza and his 6-month-old namesake, Theo; and many Covert and Krussman family members and friends.

A celebration of Theodore’s life will be held at Pine River Pond later this summer. The Covert family wishes to thank the dedicated staff of Elliot VNA Hospice, who compassionately supported Ted and the family in his final weeks. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Ted’s name to the Elliot VNA Hospice Care, www.elliotvna.org, 1070 Holt Ave, Suite 1400, Manchester NH 03109.