Theodore 'Ted' Karmazin

Theodore "Ted" Karmazin, age 90, of Grosse Ile, Michigan died peacefully in his sleep on August 25, 2018 following a long battle with advanced dementia and other old age ailments. He was born on June 5, 1928 in Wyandotte, Michigan to John Karmazin, Sr. and Rose Marie Karmazin who were residents of Grosse Ile, Michigan. Ted was the youngest child in the family with siblings Josephine R. Karmazin and John Karmazin, Jr. Ted attended the Grosse Ile Schools until his senior year of high school when he transferred to the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan where he graduated in 1945. Ted then studied for four years in the School of Engineering at the University of Michigan (U of M) in Ann Arbor. While attending U of M, Ted was an active member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and earned a varsity letter playing offensive and defensive positions on the 150 Pound Football Team led by legendary U of M coach Cliff Keen. It was here that he developed his life-long passion for the Michigan Wolverines and all things Maize and Blue. To help with the expansion of his father's business, the Karmazin Products Corporation (KPC) in Wyandotte, Michigan, that manufactured proprietary designed metal heat transfer devices, Ted transferred to the Detroit Institute of Technology where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering during 1951. Only months after graduation, Ted was drafted into the military and followed the example of his father and brother by serving in the U.S. Army. He qualified for service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and held a position in the Chief of Engineers Headquarters in Washington, D.C. during two years of the Korean War. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal. After completing military service, Ted rejoined the KPC where he worked in engineering, operations and sales. In 1966, Ted was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In this position, he developed the market for oil cooler sales that eventually became the mainstay of the company. Ted left KPC in 1971 to pursue his own opportunities outside of the family business. In 1973, he acquired Mutual Metal Products, Inc. (MMP) in Cleveland, Ohio which was a mid-sized manufacturer of precision machined parts for diesel engines, aircraft, construction equipment, and military weapons. As President and Chief Executive Officer of MMP, he successfully modernized and expanded the company for years until the severe economic recession of the early 1980s led to its closing. Ted continued his career in engineering and manufacturing by establishing a manufacturers' representative business, T.K. & Associates, Inc., serving numerous product makers, original equipment manufacturers, tier one, two and after-market suppliers. In the mid-1990s, he also became involved with the early stage formation of SOLO World Partners, Inc. (SWP), originally in Grosse Ile, Michigan before moving to Riverview, Michigan, as an international high precision metal parts sourcing company for manufacturers and suppliers. Ted worked for SWP as a Senior Sales Engineer developing new customers and business opportunities in the United States and abroad until he retired from the company in 2005. Ted maintained his T.K. & Associates, Inc. manufacturing representative business until he fully retired in the early 2010s. Even then he did not completely end his 60 year career in manufacturing and engineering as he began to design and prototype innovative metal garden tools with the goal of commercially selling them. Ted married Nancy Gregory in 1961, and they had one child, Gregory T. Karmazin, in 1965. Ted and his wife lived together on Grosse Ile in the same house along the Detroit River for 57 years. Ted led a highly active lifestyle that included golfing, swimming, boating and gardening as well as duck hunting and sailing in his younger years. He was involved in numerous community, social, civic, professional, and alumni organizations throughout his life. He was a life-long member of the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, and served as a Deacon for a number of years. Ted was involved in the establishment of the Grosse Ile Republican Club in the 1960s, and held the position of its President for a term while also serving as a Republican Precinct Delegate for twelve years. Ted was a member of the Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club for more than 50 years where he played golf until his late seventies. In addition to his family and the Michigan Wolverines, Ted's other great passion in life was the Detroit River. Aside from four years away in college and two years serving in the U.S. Army, he lived his entire life along the Detroit River on Grosse Ile -- more than 80 years. Late in his life, Ted was particularly proud of his affiliation with the Friends of the Detroit River which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization dedicated to preserving and improving the waterway. Ted is survived by his wife Nancy G. Karmazin; son, Gregory (Nicole) Karmazin; sister-in-law, Sandra Karmazin (wife of the late John Karmazin, Jr.); and nieces, Anne Marie (Richard) Schoonhoven and Julie K. Karmazin. A memorial funeral service for Ted will be held at the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church on Saturday, September 29, 11 a.m., immediately followed by a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall of the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Friends of the Detroit River by mail at 20600 Eureka Rd., Suite 250, Taylor, Michigan, 48180 or web site at www.detroitriver.org.