Theodore H. Hirschfield

Ted Hirschfield

Theodore H. Hirschfield, 70, husband, father, educator and poet, died on Wednesday, June 15 2011 of cardiac arrest in Lehigh Acres.

He was known as Ted Hirschfield and was born Helmut Hirschfield, in Prussia, Germany, on May 25 1941. Born during WWII, under the oppression of the Third Reich, his father, a Baptist minister, was ousted from his pulpit. His family, separated by the Nazis, was not to be reunited until 1946. Five years later, in 1951, after many hardships, the family escaped Eastern Germany and immigrated to the United States.

In a youth filled with the pursuit of knowledge and a love of all things literary, he received his formal education at Ottawa University, Hollins College and Vanderbilt University. While attending Ottawa University, Hirschfield met Margaret Allen. They were married on January 23, 1963 and shared 48 years together.

They had one daughter, Ann.

In 1965, Hirschfield joined the Department of English, at Southeast Missouri State University.

During his time at Southeast, Hirschfield also demonstrated his rare gift for making classical poetry and literature relevant to his students. He taught with the passion of a tent-revival preacher, remained true to his convictions, spoke the truth with courage and constantly urged his students to rise above mediocrity in all areas of their lives, his family said.

His dedication to the pursuit of a higher self served both to inspire his students as well as remind his peers of their own passion for literature which had lead them to their chosen professions, the family said.

Hirschfield was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Herbert Hirschfield; his father-in law, Rev. Thomas Allen; and his grandson, Craig N. Calvin III.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret Hirschfield of Lehigh Acres; his mother, Ann Hirschfield of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; his mother-in-law Helen Allen of Rochester N.Y.; his daughter, Ann Calvin and husband Craig and granddaughter Cassondra, of Perryville, Mo.; his brother, George Hirschfield and wife Mary; his sister-in-law Janice Lahman and husband James; his brother-in-law, Thomas Allen and wife Keith; five nieces, Grace Trendel and husband Martin, Winkle Ilic and husband Jovan, Lynn Franklin and husband Ken, Shannon Lotz and husband Jamie, and Andrea Siepman; two nephews, Sean Laham and wife Heather and Rod Allen; as well as one great-nephew Mihajlo Ilic.

At his request no public service nor memorial will be held.

In lieu of flowers and cards, the family requests donations be made to local churches, or to any favorite charity.