Educator Laurendeau known as outstanding coach and mentor
Ted Laurendeau is being remembered as someone who shaped players on the field, minds in the classroom and mentored colleagues in administration during a 34-year career in education that is still producing benefits for current generations.
The 70-year-old retired coach and principal with the Greater Essex County District School Board died Wednesday after a battle with cancer.
“Ted was a tremendous resource to go to, a bright and articulate person,” said former University of Windsor football coach Mike Morencie, who was a young assistant with the AKO Fratmen under Laurendeau in the early 1980s. “As much as his players and coaches benefitted from him, there are generations of teachers who were fortunate to get the opportunity to have his mentorship.” One of those people was Terry Lyons, director of education for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.
Lyons played for Laurendeau at AKO in 1982 and served as his vice-principal for four years at Riverside beginning in 1999. “He was such a great mentor,” Lyons said.
“He passed on so much knowledge and experience. He taught us what the job of an administrator truly entailed.
“He was all about the kids.” Laurendeau was hired by the board in 1972 and got his first contract position at Riverside in 1980. He retired in 2005 after serving as principal at Kennedy (1996-99) and Riverside (1999-2005). During that time, he waged many gridiron battles against and with his friend Brian Tayles.
“Ted always looked so easygoing on the sideline, but he was a lot more intense than he looked,” Tayles said.
“He was a very efficient, well organized and technical coach. “He was a great friend. I’m still shocked, ever since he got his diagnosis, because he always kept himself in such great shape.” Tayles credits Laurendeau with the development of his own son, Brad Tayles, into one of the finest quarterbacks this area has ever produced.
“I didn’t coach Brad for a minute because I was busy with my own teams,” Tayles said of his son who earned a scholarship to Western Michigan University. “Ted deserves all the credit for Brad’s development.” Laurendeau also coached quarterback Scott Mallender, who went on to win the Hec Crighton Trophy as the CIAU’s outstanding player, during his stint at Massey. After leaving AKO in 1983, Laurendeau served as offensive coordinator for the Windsor Lancers under coach John Musselman. “The offensive side of the ball was Ted’s thing,” Morencie said. “He was so innovative. “People would rave about some new innovation they’d seen in a (Canadian) college game and I’d tell them, ‘That’s not new. Ted was doing that five, six, seven years ago at AKO.’”
Godfrey Janisse, who coached with Laurendeau at AKO and the University of Windsor, marvelled at Laurendeau’s ability to skill up individuals on and off the field. “I had him as VP (1993-96) at Massey and he was lights out as an administrator,” said Janisse, who still helps coach football at Herman.
“I looked up to him and wished I’d been half as good as Ted was as a coach, teacher and administrator. He was outstanding at what he did, but he had no ego.” Herman football coach Harry Lumley said Laurendeau’s generosity of spirit and modesty made him popular among his peers. “He was a mentor to other coaches,” Lumley said. “He was a great teacher whether it was football, baseball or hockey.
“We’d always ask Ted for his opinion on things because he’d always give a good, thoughtful answer that made sense and we knew it came from what was best for the kids.”
Visitation will be held Saturday at Victoria Greenlawn Funeral Home from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held Sunday at 3 p.m.