Theodore (Ted) Saul Fink

Theodore (Ted) Saul Fink, passed away peacefully on September 11th, 2026 in his home in Chestnut Hill at the age of 87.

Ted Fink was a Philadelphia artist, storyteller and novelist, restauranteur, entrepreneur, musician, and impassioned tour guide to the city he loved, who lived a big and bold life. Born in 1939 in the Parkside neighborhood of West Philadelphia, to John Fink and Esther Fink, Ted often reminisced fondly about the neighborhood where he could be found playing ball in the street, singing on the corner, or listening to the game on the radio.

Ted graduated from Germantown High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Miami University. He held a Master’s degree in Education from Temple University and taught in the Philadelphia public school system for 10 years as a 6th grade teacher at Pastorius elementary school in the 1960s. His deepest passion, however, was always artistic pursuits. Ted started writing poetry when he was five, stories when he was twelve and music when he was eighteen. He spent many early summers singing on the boardwalk and waiting tables at high end restaurants in Atlantic City during its heyday in the 1950s. With this experience he joined the restaurant workers union, and took the helm as the manager of the famous University City restaurant La Terrasse during its most memorable years in the early-mid seventies where he brought in great local musicians in addition to the famous Sunday brunches.

As an intrepid entrepreneur, in 1977 he became co-owner of Superior Fish Company, the largest exporter of Anguilla Rostrata (the American eel), shipping millions of pounds to Europe and Japan. Travelling up and down the Atlantic coast to small towns and fisheries, this adventurous business was the catalyst for Ted's long-form poem and first published novel, In Search of Joel Gomez, and where he earned the moniker, The Eelman.

His unique businesses and life experiences helped set the stage for over 25 tales and 8 novels he has written to date. His ninth novel is currently with his editor to be proofed and published. He was working on yet another novel when he passed. He has written dozens of songs and performed his unique brand of poetry and storytelling all over, including at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and Philadelphia Folk Festival. His tale Brother’s All is frequently featured during the holiday season in England and the US on radio stations. For several years, he organized the Chestnut Hill Singer Songwriter Slam which featured dozens of local musicians and artists in Philadelphia. It was his greatest joy to find like-minded musicians and no matter where he went around the world, he would take his guitar and find people who delighted in playing music. Each summer, he would sit on the deck down the shore and play a set every night.

Ted was a confident, forceful presence who commanded any room he walked into. He was always authentically himself and was never one to sit still or let life pass him by. He squeezed everything he could out of life and turned his experiences into incredible adventure stories. This included traveling to Mexico on a whim to scuba dive without knowing how to swim, performing in the same folk clubs as Bob Dylan in New York City, or his most thrilling story, The Flight of the Spielkamrad, a sailing trip he took with a group of friends - none of whom had any sailing experience – to the Bahamas.

Forever in constant motion, Ted was always taking on new projects. In 1983, he built his home in Chestnut Hill with only one young 16-year old helper, nailing every board himself. It was here, nestled in the woods, where he lived with his wife Ruth, the love of his life, for the past 43 years. His home is filled with beautiful furniture he built, water colors he painted, and the garden he tended to every day. He spent hours walking through the woods with one of his many dogs over the years, and the trails of the Wissahickon gave him moments of contemplation to think about a story or song he was writing. He could fix almost anything and could as easily be found on the roof at 85 as he could be found watching his favorite sports teams.

He was a classic Phillies and Eagles fan and could not watch the games with anyone, including himself. He frequently went in and out of the room and asked for updates on the score rather than bear the agony of watching his favorite teams lose. He was convinced that his presence in certain rooms influenced results and would change where he watched games based on his latest superstitions. He especially looked forward to the Phillies winning because he knew that guaranteed a call from his son to discuss the game. At the end of every Eagles game he would “patiently” wait by the phone to discuss and dissect an Eagles win with jubilation or an Eagles loss with disgust with his son. His passion for baseball led him to coach little league baseball in the Chestnut Hill Father’s club for over 10 years and coach middle school baseball at Germantown Friends School. He delighted in every game played by the young ball players he coached.

Nothing delighted him more than his family. He was a loving father, grandfather, uncle and husband who took joy in every moment he spent with his family. He was devoted to his wife, Ruth, and was happiest in the moments they spent together. Many of his songs are love songs for his wife Ruth and he was not shy about expressing that love in front of everyone. He loved watching his children and grandchildren grow and find their passion for music and stories and share that with him.

He leaves behind his wife, Ruth Fink, who he was married to for 56 years, his daughter Juliet Fink Yates and her husband Franklin Yates, his son Matthew Fink and his wife Elizabeth Turrin, his three grandchildren Samuel, Zevi, and Emanuel Yates, and many devoted nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. His family will continue singing Ted’s favorite songs as long as they live.

Shiva will be held on Friday, September 18th at the home of Ruth Fink from 1-4pm and on Sunday, September 20th at the home of Juliet Yates from 12-3pm.

A memorial service will be planned and announced in the future.

Ted was very vocal about his politics and beliefs and would want everyone to vote and donate to the Democratic party. For those more inclined, donations can be made to Friends of the Wissahickon, The Chestnut Hill Community Association, Patchwork Storytelling Guild, or donor’s choice. But the best way to honor Ted’s memory is to go to his website, www.tedfink.com, listen to his music and stories and read one of his novels.