Edward B. “Ted” Cogswell III, 66, died on July 24, 2024, of complications brought on from Parkinson’s disease.
Ted (Teddy, Ted the Third, or T3, as he was also known) was born on October 16, 1957, at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas, to Edward B. “Ted” Cogswell Jr., and Ann Kovatch Cogswell.
Ann and Ted Jr. returned to Montana on April 16, 1958, with Teddy, who was six months old, and two Dachshunds. Brother Paul and sister Amy would soon join what was to be the Cogswell family, which usually included Dachshunds or Dalmatians.
Teddy showed great potential as an intelligent, curious, and talented young man who spent time reading, and was also an accomplished athlete and musician. Teddy’s earliest interests included astronomy, where he would entertain family and friends by sighting in the planets, and geography, where he would spend hours observing maps thinking of new places to visit.
Teddy wrote a comic strip for some period of time, Ludwig, featuring Ludwig, a kid with real big ears, and others in the cast including another kid named Wolfgang, with wolflike features. He was an excellent water-skier and played first base in the little league. His favorite bat, which he called big bruiser, was banned by the little league because it was too big, and Teddy was knocking it out of the park too many times.
Teddy excelled at the trumpet. The Tijuana Brass was his inspiration, and he was welcomed in all the bands as one of the best trumpeters in Great Falls. He accepted his first position as a professional musician at age 16 when he played in the ensemble at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. His acting career was launched at Bigfork with a role in the play Annie Oakley with two lines: “Would you like some chicken salad Miss Oakley?” and “Would you like some more chicken salad Miss Oakley?”
Teddy’s early employment, in addition to the playhouse, included being a camera man at a local television station and a nighttime greeter at the George Company Mortuary.
Some of the things that would emerge from his brain and his mouth in the early days were so clever that they still cause laughs to this day.
Ted graduated from C.M. Russell High School 1975. He graduated from the College of Great Falls with degrees in Music History and Business Administration, and also attended the University of Wyoming. He then became a part of the family business, Cogswell Agency, which provided almost daily contact with his father, grandfather and brother. This kept him in Great Falls where his family resides.
Ted was an avid reader of history and philosophy. He was an independent researcher with extensive knowledge of Baroque music.
As an adult, he developed his capabilities as a singer through professional voice coaching. As his musical talents advanced into vocal performance, he performed with the Great Falls Symphony Choir and the Montana Chorale. He also participated in special performances such as “Forever Plaid” and frequently was hired to perform at weddings or funerals.
For about twenty years Ted was one of the most outstanding long-distance runners in the State of Montana. He was competitive in hundreds of road races and some marathons. If it weren’t for a couple wrong turns or untied shoelaces, Ted might have been an Olympian.
Ted found out what he really was at some indefinite point: a hiker. As with everything that meant so much to him, he excelled in this activity. The hiker’s guides to his two favorite destinations, Yellowstone and Big Bend National Parks, are marked in the tables of contents documenting the completion of almost every hike in both guides. Ted climbed numerous 14ers in Colorado and completed some of the most classic routes in Glacier National Park.
Ted was an influential member of the Cogswell family whose input shaped much of the family thinking, and for which we have been very thankful.
Ted is survived by his mother, Ann Cogswell; brother, Paul Cogswell (Sue Shannon); and sister, Amy (Jack) Law; two nephews, Jeremy Law and Tyler Law; and a niece, Olivia Law.
A funeral service will be held at the Church of the Incarnation-Episcopal on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Schnider Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials in Ted’s name are suggested to the Church of the Incarnation; the Great Falls Symphony; or an animal rescue organization of the donor’s choice.
The Cogswell family thanks the wonderful caregivers of Alacare: Julie Demarais, Vivian Simpson, Mandi Southard, Kevin Doyle, and Jamie Goldinger, for all their kindness and hours spent with Ted.
The family is grateful to Stillwater Hospice for the excellent, compassionate care over the last 10 months.
Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.SchniderFuneralHome.com.
Author: Staff
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