Ted Pedas – Obituary – Mahoning Valley

Ted Pedas (82) astronomy educator, entrepreneur and philanthropist passed away suddenly of cardiac arrest, March 11, 2021, at his winter residence on Sanibel Island, FL.

Although a lifelong resident of Farrell, PA, he travelled the seven continents, visiting more than 200 planetariums and observatories as well as scores of destinations of interest to astronomers, archaeologists, anthropologists, historians and naturalists.

His parents Steve Pedas (Tsimpidis) and Angeline (Havas) predeceased him.  

The 1957 launch of Sputnik by the Soviets, the first satellite to orbit the earth, was a pivotal event in Ted’s life. He switched his university major from business to astronomy, earning degrees in science education and planetarium science from Youngstown State University, Michigan State University and University of California at Berkeley (1969)

Ted took seriously the education and mentoring of students. He championed science education at YSU’s Ward Beecher Planetarium (1964 – 1994) and in Youngstown OH’s public school system launching teacher workshops designed to change the curriculum from “rote memorization” to “discovery”. He was designated ‘Planetarium Administrator Emeritus’, Youngstown State University (1993).

As a founding member of the International Planetarium Society (1968), he was recognized as an innovator in the fields of planetarium operations and education.  He was elected ‘Fellow of the International Planetarium Society’ (1996).

His many honors include the U.S. Department of State’s Agency for International Development Award for “exemplary service in education” (1977) and twice nominated as a finalist for Pennsylvania ‘Educator of the Year’ (1979, 1981).

The Ted Pedas Planetarium in his hometown, Farrell, PA, is named in honor of his contributions and benevolence to the Farrell Area School District and community. His brother George, as the planetarium’s technical director, was the mastermind behind the operation overseeing upgrades and presentations in the full dome facility. In addition to the planetarium Ted funded the creation of the Farrell Area School District Foundation and the Farrell Alumni Hall of Fame.

His hands-on science programs at YSU and Farrell High School included model rocket clubs, where young enthusiasts designed, constructed and launched light-weight rockets in size from a few inches to six feet.   Astronomy merit badges were awarded to over 2000 Boy Scouts who attended planetarium and star gazing sessions.  Programs were designed to supplement areas of study that highlighted the importance of star navigation such as how escaped slaves, on the Underground Railroad, used the stars to find their way to freedom.

One of Ted’s most rewarding moments was receiving mail from former pupils who proudly reported their skill navigating the night sky while serving in the military during the first Gulf War.   

In 1983 Ted Pedas was selected by NASA to write and co-produce with Tim Kuzniar, (his former student) a planetarium show “All Systems Go,” documenting America’s first quarter century in space in honor of NASA’s 25th anniversary. 

Ted was a featured news writer on astronomy, space science and travel in regional papers.  His weekly “Cosmos” column in the Youngstown Vindicator (1964 -1999) increased public attendance at the Youngstown and Farrell planetariums. Ted chartered buses for students to join him at Kennedy Space Center where, as a news correspondent, he reported on five of the Apollo and Skylab space mission launches.

An advocate for calendar reform he accepted Senator Everett Dirksen’s invitation to testify before committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to pass the Uniform Holiday Act of 1968. As a result, beginning in 1971, Congress moved four federal holidays to Mondays to create three-day holiday weekends. 

Ted’s first attempt to organize a group of astronomy enthusiasts was less than successful. Approaching the town fathers of Eclipse, VA with an idea for an outdoor celebration to view the March 7, 1970 solar eclipse, he was taken for a rock festival promoter, and quickly escorted out of town.   http://pedasfamily.com/history.html

Ted Pedas is acknowledged as a pioneer in the specialty field of ocean-going science travel programs. To avoid the risk of being clouded-out, as was frequent during land based eclipse observations, Ted, with his sister Marcy; former brother-in-law Phil S. Sigler; and then-wife Evelyn, organized the first “Voyage to Darkness” solar eclipse cruise that successfully rendezvoused with eclipse totality, on July 10, 1972, in the north Atlantic off the coast of Nova Scotia aboard the Olympia.  The Greek Line was rewarded with a full ship (850 passengers) and Pedas’ reputation as the sea-going astronomer was launched.

The following year 850 “Voyage to Darkness”  eclipse devotees aboard Cunard’s ship,…