Theodore D. (“Ted”) Sargent was born in Peabody, Massachusetts in 1936, the second son of Theodore R. and Bessie (Whitman) Sargent. His mother died shortly after the birth of his twin sisters in 1937, and Ted was then raised by his father and stepmother, Helen (Rice) Sargent. Ted (known as “David” in his youth) showed early interests in nature and outdoor activities, and became an Eagle Scout in 1952. He graduated from Peabody High School in 1954, and received his B.S. degree in Zoology from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1958. He then went on to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and received his M.S. (1960) and Ph.D. (1963) degrees, specializing in animal behavior (under the direction of Dr. John T. Emlen, Jr.).

Dr. Sargent was hired as a lecturer in the Department of Zoology at the University of Massachusetts in 1963, and spent the next 38 years as a faculty member in that department. Ted and Katherine (“Kathy”) Doktor of Cushman, MA were married in 1966, and raised two children, David (1967) and Meryl (1970), while residing in Leverett, where they have lived since 1967. While teaching at the University of Massachusetts, Ted also conducted extensive research, focusing on predator-prey interactions, and especially the behavioral adaptations of cryptic moths preyed upon by birds. He published extensively in a wide variety of scientific journals, and directed the research efforts of many graduate students. His 1976 book, Legion of Night: The Underwing Moths (University of Massachusetts Press), led to his active participation in the international Lepidopterists’ Society. He served as editor of that society’s Journal for many years, and was elected President in 1980.

Ted always managed to integrate a variety of outside interests into his academic career. He dabbled in antiques and collectibles throughout his life, and even ran a retail store, “Metamorphosis,” in Chatham, MA on Cape Cod, for several summers in the 1980’s. Later he became a dealer in postcards, specializing in local (western MA) scenic cards. He also worked for many years at the Whately Antiquarian Book Center in North Hatfield. Ever appreciating the rare and unusual, he could frequently be found at local auctions, flea markets and antique shops. His special collecting interests included natural history books (especially on butterflies and moths), New England poetry, fine rock and mineral specimens (especially the rarer agate varieties), and old New England glass (Sandwich, Stoddard, etc.).

In addition to these collecting interests, Ted also loved old-time country and bluegrass music. He learned to play the dobro when he was a young professor, and even managed to play that instrument in a local band, “Mountain Rose,” for a few years. He could also play the autoharp and Appalachian dulcimer, though he sometimes joked, “Who couldn’t?” Always, however, the out-of-doors appealed most strongly to him, and he loved to hike the local area, most often with Kathy, his wife of over 50 years. He was especially interested in local birds, though plants, and especially mushrooms, attracted his attention in more recent years. In addition to these many and varied interests, Ted also managed to write a little poetry, and composed a number of folk and country songs.

After his retirement from the University of Massachusetts, Ted developed some new scholarly interests in local history, and this eventually resulted in a biography of Elaine Goodale Eastman (1863-1953) (University of Nebraska Press, 2005). Elaine Goodale had been a famous child poet in the Berkshires of western MA, who went on to marry a Sioux Native American, and then lived a long and interesting life – mostly in Amherst and Northampton. Ted’s last published paper was also devoted to aspects of the marriage of Elaine and Charles (“Ohiyesa”) Eastman (South Dakota History, 2010).

A memorial service will be held at a later date.