Theodore Bennett Carter

Theodore Bennett Carter lived a life of curiosity, creativity, and connection. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he passed away on October 6, 2025, at age 87 after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by the family he so deeply loved.

Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1938, Ted attended high school in Newport, Rhode Island, where watching ships sail in and out of the harbor sparked his lifelong interest in ships of war and all things nautical. He went on to earn degrees from the University of Rhode Island, Boston University School of Law, and Southern Methodist University. During his summers, he worked as a gardener at The Breakers mansion in Newport, deepening his appreciation for the city's history and coastal beauty.

A lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox and Celtics, Ted grew up admiring Ted Williams and followed his hometown teams from every corner of the world. An insatiable reader, he was rarely without a book nearby—especially on history, World War II, or international affairs—and maintained a steady rotation of library books that reflected his endless curiosity about how the world works.

Ted joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1965, serving with distinction in Vietnam, South Korea, Egypt, Pakistan, and Barbados. His work took him across the globe, but what he cherished most were the stories, friendships, and understanding he gathered along the way. In retirement, he continued to travel widely as a consultant and advisor—work he found as exhilarating and rewarding as his time in the Foreign Service. A gifted photographer, he captured tens of thousands of images from his travels—moments of humanity, color, and landscape that he shared through his beloved slide shows, turning evenings at home into journeys across the world.

At home, Ted's creativity never rested. He painted watercolors of mountains, ships, and city skylines—so many that rooms of the house became galleries of his art. He built an extraordinary collection of model ships—warships and ocean liners alike—crafted entirely by hand from detailed plans. His collection numbers in the hundreds, and a substantial portion of his work is featured in the U.S. Naval War College Museum's exhibit "Navies in Miniature" in Newport, earning a permanent place among the Navy's celebrated displays.

Honoring his wishes, his ashes will be scattered in the waters off Newport, where Narragansett Bay opens to the Atlantic Ocean.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia Carter; his children, Ted, Randy, and Laurie; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family will remember him most for his remarkable memory, thirst for knowledge, and zest for experiencing all that the world had to offer.

No formal service will be held. Family and friends will gather in his spirit—music playing, his slides and photos glowing softly, and stories flowing, as they always did when Ted was in the room.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Theodore Bennett Carter, please visit our flower store.