Ted Norman McCluskey, 42, passed away May 17, 2019. He leaves behind his partner of 17 years, Kevin Roberts; his mother, Kathryn Nelson; and her companion, Billy Bergholtz; his brother, Michael F. McCluskey; his aunts and uncles, Sue Hopper, Carol and Steve Hartley, Mary and John Reinhardt, and Eileen Thomas; and numerous cousins and friends. He was preceded by his father Jerry Nelson; and his grandparents Theodore and Faye Armstrong.
Ted was a true and lifelong St. Louisan. He grew up in Maplewood, attended Saint Louis University, worked at The Edward Jones Dome and for various healthcare institutions in the region. But in 2007, it was his driving entrepreneurial spirit that sparked the creation of the fun and wildly successful St. Louis BigBalls Kickball league, as well as many other adult sports leagues in the region, that become as household St. Louis as the Cardinals or toasted raviolis.
In addition to running leagues of thousands of players and creating lifelong friendships, his work through both the his leagues and community involvement was and remains an integral part of the revitalization of the many neighborhoods around Tower Grove Park where he resided for 15 years.
Ted loved the news and politics, documentaries, swimming, hiking, hunting and shooting, community and was always up for a good discussion, a solid laugh, or rooting the Cards or Blues. In high school he was a camp counselor at Sherwood Forest Camp where he helped at-risk youth experience the joys of the great outdoors. He also leaves behind two cats Junior and Barkley, and was also preceded by dog Omar.
Although throughout most of his adult life he fought hard medical issues that would hold down the average joe, ‘The Commish’ never faltered or lost his positive drive and optimistic spirit and continued to work hard and always looked to the future.
Memorial Services will be held at the Kutis Affton Funeral Home this Thursday May 23, 2019. Visitation 4pm Service 6pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to these causes that Ted was passionate about: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association and Sherwood Forest Camp