6/6/1948 – 9/1/2026
Albany, NY
William Theodore ‘Ted’ Mehl, 78, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at Community Hospice in Albany, New York. Ted was born in Wichita, Kansas on June 6, 1948, and grew up there with his mother Elizabeth ‘Betty,’ his father Elmer, and his younger sister Melissa. After working for years as a carpenter, he moved to Lawrence, Kansas with his family in 1985 to earn his Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Kansas. He made his home in Lawrence for many years, raising his son Seth and daughter Rachel there. He married Loretta Pyles in Lawrence in 2005, having connected at the Kansas Zen Center.
Ted was a college professor, spiritual student, poet, potter, and carpenter, and had a playful spirit and a unique sense of humor. He taught a range of courses including “Buddhism,” “World Religions,” “Death and Dying,” and “The Meaning of Life” at the Kansas City Art Institute, Tulane University, and the University at Albany. He used to bring homemade chocolate chip cookies to his students at the end of the semester.
Ted and his wife Loretta built a life full of love for each other. Their passions for spiritual exploration and the natural world were at the heart of their relationship. Ted was a member of the Living Grace Global Sangha for many years. He maintained a steady chanting practice that he always dedicated to others, and throughout the decade of his 60s, he began every day with yoga. He also loved to take care of the dog and cat friends in his life over the years, including most recently, their dog, Ellie, and cats, Bella and Jerry Garcia. He was a long-time member-worker in the bulk department at Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany.
Ted is survived by his wife Loretta, son Seth (Yianna), daughter Rachel (Aaron), granddaughter Dora and grandson Sycamore, and by his sister Melissa.
Services will be held at the Kansas Zen Center in Lawrence, Kansas, on Sunday, October 25. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Community Hospice in Albany, New York at www.communityhospice.org.
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