Remembering Theodore H. "Ted" Strauss

Businessman and civic leader became a longtime supporter of the Moody College

Ted Strauss Banner

Theodore H. "Ted" Strauss (BBA '46), a Dallas businessman, civic leader and longtime supporter of the Moody College of Communication, passed away on Sept. 5.

Husband of the late Annette Greenfield Strauss (BA Sociology, '44), Dallas' first elected woman mayor and the namesake of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life, he helped establish the Annette Strauss Institute in 2000 to honor Annette and combat political disaffection in the U.S. Through nonpartisan research, education and outreach, the Institute seeks to understand and overcome obstacles to civic engagement.

To help UT Austin undergraduates build their professional skills and deepen their commitment to public service, Nancy and Jeremy Halbreicht, Ted's daughter and son-in-law, established the Theodore H. Strauss Civic Internship Award. The award supplements students' paid or unpaid internships in the fields of public policy, public service, government or politics.

"He was a joyous and yet serious fellow who really fell in love with the Institute and was a loyal supporter for 15 years," said Moody College Dean Roderick P. Hart and founder of the Annette Strauss Institute. "He was a close personal friend and I will miss him profoundly."

Ted was a 2007 recipient of Moody College's Robert C. Jeffrey Benefactor Award, which honors Bob Jeffrey, the third dean of the college, and individuals who have given generously to the college with their time or resources.

Ted had a distinguished career. Profiled in BusinessWeek while still in his 30s, he established multiple banks in Dallas, served as the senior managing director of Bear Stearns & Company, was an early board member of Clear Channel Communications, and also chaired the board of Strauss Broadcasting.

Outside of work, Ted loved spending time with his family, including his two daughters and his granddaughters (one of whom is a Moody College graduate). He has been named Father of the Year in Dallas and has received the YWCA Family of the Year Award.

He is survived by his wife Susan Wayne Strauss; children, Nancy Strauss Halbreich and her husband Jeremy, and Janie Strauss McGarr and her husband Cappy of Dallas; his grandchildren, Elizabeth McGarr McCue and her husband Matt of New York and Kathryn McGarr of Brooklyn; his stepdaughters, Lisa Wayne of Chicago and Lesli Levine of Dallas; and his nephews and nieces Richard Strauss and his wife Diana of Dallas, Robert A. Strauss and his wife Olga of Tucson, and Susan Strauss Breen and her husband George of Dallas.

His memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8 at Temple Emanu-El after a private family graveside ceremony.

Laura Byerley
Public Affairs Representative