Ted Madey - Site web commémoratif en ligne

I had the good fortune of attending Loyola College with Ted in physics; his brilliance amazed me  back then... his passing has greatly saddened me.

Thank you Ted for your friendship and help.


My condolences to the Maddy family.

Donald S VanArsdale   BS '59

I am sorry to say that today (8-14-08) my daughter, while searching through her junk mail in hopes of finding a lost item, found a filtered piece of mail that she decided to open.  It was the note informing her of Dr. Meady's passing.

My daughter, Meral Reyhan, was priviledged to have worked as a graduate student under the tutelage of Dr. Meady.  When she defended her Masters thesis, Dr. Meady happily and deservedly shared in our joy with his customary good cheer and bottle of champagne.  We hold him directly responsible for Meral's success and he will live forever in our hearts with deepest gratitude. 

When I heard of Dr. Meady's battle with cancer, I wanted to write him an encouraging, heartfelt note, however, I was retiring from a 30 year career just about the same time and I had 30 years of clean up and loose ends to tie up before I left.  I just didn't have the time to do it which I deeply regret.  I did write the note in my mind many times though.  As a cancer survivor myself, I know what it feels like to be surprisingly confronted with one's own mortality.  If I had taken the time to write to write to him, I would have said something like this:

Dear Dr. Meady,

Thank you for having spent much of your time on planet Earth being an outstanding role model and mentor to the young scientists of today and tomorrow.  Thank you for taking time getting to know each of your charges on a personal, professional and intellectual level and for helping them become their  personal best. 

I have recently heard that you have a new focus in your life.  You are planning to wage war on a formidable opponent.  Surely you will give the fight all the energy you can muster and whether it is enough to win or not, you can rest assured that you have the moral support of all those who know, love and respect you.  Do your best to face down the obstacles that will surely be placed in your way and boldly go where you have not gone before.  Say all the important things to all the important people in your life and settle all scores that may be unresolved.  At that point,  you can devote all of your energy to the  outcome that you are meant to have.   Cancer does not seem as if it could have a positive thing about it, but it does!  It gives you the unparalleled opportunity to see what stuff people can be and are made of.  For some reason, in times of adversity, people put aside all the pettiness ....the  whining, complaining, negativity, hatefulness and so on that unfortunately make up much of life  and  rise above it to be the best that  human beings can ever be.  You will have kindness and love pouring forth from people you've never even heard of.  People will pray for you, wish you well, visit you, offer heartfelt words, love you and be loved by you.  And you, you will transcend the pettiness of everyday life too and begin to treasure people, places and time even more than you may already cherish them.  Everyday will become a valued gift to be etched into your memory and the memories of others - in inner space, held tightly forever.  Whatever the medical outcome, you will be successful because you will experience love on a heightened level.  In a way, win or lose, it is a win/win scenario.  Cancer makes people be the best they can be.  That is the gift that cancer allows you.  Enjoy it!

Godspeed to health and happiness
Joyce Reyhan,
Meral's mom

My sympathies to the entire Madey Family on the loss of their husband, father, grandfather and brother. May you find condolence in the many memories you have of the kindest  good man.

I have known and admired Ted as a colleague in Chemistry at Rutgers; in all my interactions with him he was a scholar and a gentleman. I will think of him and miss him.