Theodore Waters Bird

Theodore (Ted) Waters Bird of Arlington, VT passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 following a lengthy battle with several difficult health issues. He was 82 years old. Born on April 16, 1940, Ted grew up in Arlington, Manchester and Bennington and attended local schools. At heart, Ted was an entrepreneur and is probably most well-known for the retail store that he owned and operated during the 60’s and 70’s in downtown Bennington, “Bird’s”. Bird’s was the local music and audio/video store for many years. Teens and adults alike spent hours at Bird’s going through the latest releases, including albums and 45’s, and everyone brought their film to Bird’s to be developed into slides and pictures. In addition to music and camera accessories, Bird’s sold cameras, stereos, televisions, speakers, tape recorders, receivers, and amps. Once located at 412 Main Street, Bird’s relocated to the Drysdale Building in the late 70’s and added an equipment repair department and an audio sound room for potential customers to experiment with equipment before purchasing and bringing it home. Bird’s was the first store in town to carry the Sony BetaMax video system. Ted’s favorite ad from the Bennington Banner was printed when the first BetaMax became available at the store- “No baloney, Bird’s has Sony”. He chuckled at that for years. After going out of business in 1979, Ted relocated to Maryland where he opened a successful lunch kiosk in a mall; a kiosk that offered a wide variety of hot dogs and sausages with an equally wide variety of toppings. Ted sold the business, Ted’s Dog House, and returned to New York and New England, where his eventual goal would be to return to Bennington. Ted’s love of the place where he grew up never diminished. Vermont always was and always would be his home. When he returned to Vermont he obtained his commercial real estate license and worked at Hoisington Realty in the Commercial Real Estate Division until he retired a few years ago. Ted leaves behind a brother, Bruce Bird; a daughter Lisa Bird Higgins; a son, Seth (Tammy ) Bird; and another daughter, Julie Bird (Gregory) Hunter. He’s also survived by grandchildren, Zach (Alicia Bersnon)Higgins, Kayla Bird (Jordan) Courtain, Kristin Bird (Pratik) Patel, Riley and Jenna, and great-grandchildren Owen and Greyson Courtain and Aarna Patel. He was predeceased by his parents Joseph Ward Bird, Mary Waters (Bird) Nash, and a brother Richard Bird. Ted loved books, music, traveling, trivia, dining out, history, movies, politics, plays, and was involved for many, many years in the local Rotary club. He was an active member of the Second Congregationalist Church and choir. He was a former spelunker, motorcycle-rider, and photographer. But what meant the most to Ted was his group of treasured and long-time friends and spending time with them whenever possible. He loved his friends and the Town of Bennington. No matter what, Ted was eternally optimistic about the great potential and the possibility of a bright future for Bennington, Vermont, his home. Services for Ted will be held privately at a later date when all family members can be assembled. If you’d like to raise a glass in memory of Ted, he’d be absolutely delighted. Should friends desire, memorial contributions in Ted’s honor may be made to either the Bennington Rotary Club through the office of the Mahar and Son Funeral Home 628 Main St. Bennington, VT 05201