Ted Powers, who taught future journalists at MVCC, dies
By Bob Bong
Ted Powers, whose passion for journalism inspired budding reporters at Moraine Valley Community College and turned The Glacier into one of the top student newspapers in the country, died February 19 at age 68 after a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure.
“Ted gave everything in his life 150%,” said his wife, Alison Moran-Powers. “Whether it was his family, the Moraine Valley Glacier, or when he was reporting on events. That, and his passion and zest for life, were the keys to his success. Another thing that made Ted unique: like the greats he covered, he made those around him better. Ted always showed up for the people he loved.”
They met when she was a guest lecturer to his Publications Class at Moraine Valley in 2012.
It was at Moraine Valley that Ted found his passion for journalism and reporting. As a student, he covered sports and news for The Glacier newspaper, and freelanced as a high school sports reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and Southwest News Publishing.
Upon graduation from St. Xavier, he was asked to return to Moraine Valley, first as Director of Advertising, later as Student Publication Advisor for The Glacier, until his retirement in 2019.
Ted was so much more than an advisor to his students. Under his direction, The Glacier became one of the top-rated student newspapers in the country, earning honors from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association and nationally, from the College Media Association and Associated Collegiate Press.
He took his students to college journalism conferences across the nation, from California to Washington, D.C.
He and Alison also hosted workshops on “The Future of Journalism,” and “Blogging” for students and advisors alike.
He also created opportunities for his students to cover teams like the Chicago Wolves, giving them the opportunity to work alongside professional sports journalists.
He also hosted college and high school journalism conferences at Moraine Valley, inspiring a new generation of journalists by bringing in veterans of the field to guest-lecture. He also coached Moraine Valley’s College Bowl to several tournament championships.
One of those students was Kevin Kenealy, who is now an AP English teacher at Crete-Monee High School, a published author and an Orland Park resident.
“I don’t know where I’d be in my life without Ted Powers,” Kenealy said. “He not only positively affected my life, but the lives of many. Whenever I teach a class, help a student, or pass on one of his words of wisdom, I know I will do his memory justice. He continues to serve even after he’s gone because he showed us the way, and that’s truly a beautiful thing.”
He grew up in Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood and graduated from Bogan High School. He studied at Moraine Valley Community College and St. Xavier University.
Ted lived every day to the fullest, with joy, passion, perseverance, determination, and a wily sense of adventure and humor. As a teenager, he earned the ranking of Eagle Scout and was named a member of the Order of the Arrow, which recognizes Boy Scouts who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. He carried that determination into his first career as a printer, as a husband, and in raising his children. Ted was involved in the Masons, Y-Indian Princesses, coaching softball and baseball, and mentoring students.
His greatest battle came when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer in 1992. Eschewing common wisdom and advice, and determined to see his children reach adulthood, he researched and underwent an experimental treatment at Rush Hospital, which ultimately gave him an additional 30+ years of life; time enough to earn his Associates Degree in Communications from Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, then a Bachelor’s in Communications from St. Xavier University in Chicago after his cancer went into remission.
As a lifelong Chicago sports fan, he relished covering the teams he loved as a boy. Whether it was his Chicago Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks and Bulls, and even the White Sox, he was thrilled to interview his heroes of the past and the stars of the present.
Ted’s passing leaves a large hole in the lives of all who knew and loved him.
According to Ted’s wishes, there will be no funeral or burial services; instead, a celebration of life will be held in DeKalb on March 4. For time and location details please email his daughter Rebecca at rebeccapowers99@yahoo.com.
Gifts in his memory can be sent to Camp Tecumseh- YMCA in Brookston, Indiana (https://www.camptecumseh.org/give/); his favorite camping location where he spent many weekends over the last 40 years with his family.
Survivors include Alison; their child, Lev; his brother, Bud; sisters, Peggy and Judy; mother-in-law Betty Moore; former wife, Colleen Flood; seven daughters: Felicia Fernandez , Selina (Hugo) Cabrera, Melita (Dan) Loya, Colleen Fernandez Thompson, Marialena Fernandez, Jenine Fernandez and Rebecca Powers (Corey Mainhart); three sons, Ricardo (Gina) Fernandez, Cristiano (Meg Ann) Fernandez and Andrew (Kathy) Powers; 18 grandchildren: Cristina, Elisa, Alec, Elliott, Danny, Marisa, Mia, Darryl, Valentina, Mercedes, Cesar, Jesenia, Alexus, Xavier, Annabelle, Logan, Laurali, and Aidan; eight nieces and nephews: Tammie, Tracie, Jim, Jason, Stephanie, Christopher, Jennifer, and Brian; also, dear friends, family and former students.
3 Comments
Local News
Worth Library celebrates 60th anniversary
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The Worth Public Library has been around for decades. Resting in the heart of the village at 6917 W. 111th St., the library held an event focusing on its rich background story on April 23 with a historical photo exhibit. “It’s amazing because this library is still so important to…
Rose Zubik, Woman’s Club veteran, installed as 3rd District president
Spread the love Rose Zubik, of Palos Heights, the new president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois, lights a candle during the installation ceremony held April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park. Heather Linehan, the outgoing president, is beside her.By Dermot Connolly A longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club…
Shots fired in Chicago Ridge Commons parking lot
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Shots were fired Wednesday night in the parking lot at Chicago Ridge Commons mall. Police said they received reports of the shooting about 9:45 p.m. No injuries were reported. Multiple witnesses told police four men were walking through the parking lot from the XSport Fitness area. They approached two vehicles…
Hair salon with a ‘flair’ marks first year in Chicago Ridge
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Melissa Kowalski wanted to do something meaningful to mark the first-year anniversary of her Flair With Hair Salon in Chicago Ridge. “We did not have a grand opening last year so I wanted to do something really special,” Kowalski said. “We wanted to say thank you to our clients.” Kowalski,…
Palos East fifth-grader wins Scholastic Storyworks writing contest
Spread the loveGabriel Chowaniec, a fifth-grader at Palos East Elementary School, has been named a winner of the Scholastic Storyworks Magazine writing contest. Gabriel, who is a student in Cathy Casey’s fifth-grade classroom, was named one of only five winners nationally for the December 2023/January 2024 competition. Garbriel’s submission for the nonfiction story “The Shattered Land,” “showed a strong understanding of the text along with the ability to author a well-organized…
Shepard celebrates Autism Week
Spread the loveBy Kelly White World Autism Acceptance Week is organized by the National Autistic Society in the first week of April and aims to raise awareness about the challenges autistic people face across all areas of society. Not missing out the opportunity to celebrate all-inclusion was Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos…
Billions of cicadas get ready to raise a racket
Spread the loveBy Kelly White If you haven’t heard the buzz yet, you will soon. With 2024 marking a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, billions of the red-eyed buggers will soon be making an appearance. Periodical cicada broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time.…
‘A man of honor, a beacon of kindness’
Spread the love. Chicago weeps for Officer Luis Huesca . By Tim Hadac People across the Southwest Side shed tears earlier this week, as throngs of police officers and other filled the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 77th and Western for a funeral Mass for CPD Officer Luis M. Huesca. Officer Huesca was…
Archer Manor Little League starts its 2024 season
Spread the love. Sunny skies and mild temperatures greeted the boys and girls, moms and dads, umpires and coaches, and everyone else participating in Archer Manor Little League’s Opening Day parade and ceremonies at Archer Park. Since 1952, AMLL has provided athletic opportunities for thousands of boys and girls in Archer Heights, West Elsdon, Central…
Neighbors
Baseball | Marist claws way back to .500
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent This season has thus far not been what Marist had expected, but the RedHawks came into this week at .500. Marist was 2-8 after 10 games this season, with three of those first eight losses coming via shutout. But the RedHawks turned things around with a stretch of eight…
Red Stars fall to Spirit for third loss in past four matches
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent After enjoying one of their best starts in franchise history, the Chicago Red Stars have slid to the middle of the NWSL standings, with the latest setback being a 4-2 loss to Washington at SeatGeek Stadium. The Stars (3-3-1) entered this week having dropped three of their past four…
Red Stars take aim at NWSL attendance record with Wrigley game
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars are thinking big when it comes to their upcoming game at Wrigley Field. The team is taking aim at the NWSL record for single-game attendance when it hosts Bay FC at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs on June 8. The record is held…
IHSA announces boys volleyball postseason assignments
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year, the area sent a pair of boys volleyball teams to state as Lyons finished runner-up to champion Glenbard South and Brother Rice lost in the quarterfinals. This year, both could face each other in the sectional finals. The Lions picked up the second seed and the Crusaders…
Badminton players from Reavis and Lyons going to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Reavis singles player Dania Amjad finished third in the Bolingbrook Sectional on May 2 to qualify for the IHSA state tournament. The Lyons doubles team of Simone Brown and Mia Graziano finished fourth in the York Sectional to qualify for state. The state finals are May 10-11 at DeKalb…
Brother Rice, Sandburg sending boats to bash fishing state tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Brother Rice is sending two boats to the IHSA state bass fishing tournament. The Crusaders had first- and third-place finishes at the Des Plaines River Big Basin Marina Sectional on May 2. Sandwiched in between the Brother Rice boats was a group from Sandburg in second place. The Crusaders’…
Lions Club District 1A Helen Keller race draws big field
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The damp weather from overnight rain did not deter more than 100 people on Sunday morning from getting some exercise. The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn. “This is a really great…
EPCHS students collect shoes for Christmas Without Cancer Sneaker Drive
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Students in Evergreen Park Community High School’s junior physical education leadership class teamed up with the non-profit organization Christmas Without Cancer to help local families battling the devastation of cancer. The class – taught by EPCHS physical education teacher Ree McDonald – helped gather donations for Christmas Without Cancer’s second…
Swallow Cliff Chapter, NSDAR, honors JROTC cadets
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Swallow Cliff Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, participated in recent JROTC awards ceremonies held at Shepard High School in Palos Heights and Richards High School in Oak Lawn. The DAR JROTC award, consisting of a medal and certificate, was presented to Navy Cadet Emily Schrode at Richards…
Man charged with child abduction in Stickney Township
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with child abduction and luring of a minor after Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives found he attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle, said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. According to police, about 4:43 p.m. on Monday, April 22, officers responded…
Beautiful tribute to a wonderful man.
An amazing man and uncle❤️
Ted did tremendous honor to a program launched by my father (who later edited the Southwest News Herald, for that latter).
Rest in peace, Professor.