EAST ORANGE – Funeral arrangements for Theodore R. “Ted” Green, Sr., the father of Mayor Ted Green, have not been publicly announced as of Dec. 1. The elder Green had died Nov. 27.
Green and his wife Lula Mae Jones-Green had moved to East Orange from Newark and North Carolina in the 1960s to start a family: “Ted Green Jr.,” Jason, Kenoise Jones, Sr. and Leah. The patriarch meanwhile worked in NPS’ Peshine Avenue School until his retirement.
Both Teds started the Green School of Martial Arts in 1990. The father became Grand Master, the son Sensei. Among the many students of the dojo was none other than “Local Talk” Content Editor Kristopher Seals.
“Years ago, he (Green, Sr.) saw a small young man who was constantly bullied in elementary school and suggested that he enroll in the Green Ninja Ryu, run by himself and his son Ted Green, Jr.,” Seals wrote in an Instagram post.
“During my lessons, I sparred with the likes of Ted Jr’s son Sal, Doug, and Ken, the latter of whom introduced me – by accident – to the magical sensation of getting kicked in the groin. (Spoiler alert: It sucks.) Although I did not stay with it as long as I would have wanted to, I did learn the most crucial elements of self-defense.
“The environment wasn’t just karate (which actually means empty hand), but it was that of a group of community-driven fine upstanding black men. Ted Green Jr. went on to become the Mayor of East Orange, while Doug’s dad was among a select group of photographers who chronicled the Obamas time in the White House…Thank you. Rest in Peace.”
Eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren are among Green’s survivors. His beloved Lula Mae, who died March 8, sons Kenoise, Sr. and Jason and daughter Leah predeceased him.
