Frederick “Ted” Hayward, 75, of 69 Windsor Court, Keene, N.H., died peacefully on December 24 at the Catholic Medical Center after a period of failing health.

Ted’s love and pursuit of antiques continued to be a driving force until the end; he searched and purchased the antique objects of his passion only days before passing.

Ted’s desire was powerful, he was willing to pay the price †even as his health circumstances changed; health stole his energy yet he mustered energy, enthusiasm and courage until the end.

Ted enjoyed what he did, his family and life itself; he found joy and thrill in the hunt, loving the pursuit of objects&⁨e found success in sharing his abundant knowledge with others, translating his perception, expanding many of our horizons&⁳haring his understanding of the past through its artifacts. This man found reward in mentoring the “next generation” of collectors and antiques professionals.

He was born in Brockton, Mass., on January 21, 1934, the son of Harold and Elizabeth (Hardy) Hayward. Ted graduated from Brockton High School and was president of the class of 1952; he earned a degree in biology at Tufts University in 1956. After graduation, he married Carole West and lived in Wilmington, Del., for 33 years. They were happily married for 53 years.

Ted was employed as production supervisor with Allied Chemical Company in Pennsylvania, where he retired after 30 years. Ted loved sports and was a faithful fan of the Boston Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots and Celtics. He was an avid reader of many subjects, especially antiques.

Upon his retirement, he and Carole moved to Richmond, N.H., where they operated The Yankee Smuggler Antiques for 20 years at their colonial home. Three years ago, the couple semi-retired to Keene, N.H., where they continued to collect and deal in American country antiques. The Haywards remained active by participating in several antiques shows and displaying their collections at a West Townsend, Mass., antiques shop.

It was during Ted’s early days at Allied that he discovered antiques, embarking on his lifelong journey of collecting and dealing antiques; the pursuit shared with his soul mate beside him as an equal force. With his wife Carole, he founded Yankee Smuggler Antiques 45 years ago. Ted not only considered Carole his life and business partner but, as he often shared, “his gift from God.”

Ted’s love for his wife Carole was evident, a relationship vibrating warmth and meaning&⁥ven during the hardship of failing health, his love for Carole and life and his sense of humor shined. Recalling a recent outing with Ted and Carole, these kids walked hand-in-hand as they always did; a member of our group stated, “It is refreshing to observe that after 50 years of marriage that you still hold hands!” Without pausing, Ted, grinning ear-to-ear, shouted, “We are holding each other up!”

For Ted and Carole, love is eternal&⁡s Emily Dickenson so eloquently stated, “I argue thee that love is life †And life hath immortality.”

Teddy treasured Carole, their family and friends; those of us that were fortunate in knowing and understanding his entire being&⁨is soul, his strengths, his human weaknesses, his passions and drive&⁩t is his little nameless unremembered acts of kindness and scope of his personality that bridge collective and personal memories of this man’s abundant life. Although void of his presence, his legacy remains.

Ted was a member of the Richmond, N.H., United Methodist Church and a former member of the South Congregational Church of Brockton, Mass., and the Concord Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, Del.

Ted and Carole are members of the New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association.

Survivors include his wife, Carole of Keene, N.H., his daughter Debbie H. Golt, also of Keene, and his son Brian and his wife Lisa of Denver, Colo.; a brother Donald Hayward and his wife Joanne of Keene. Also surviving are his four grandchildren: Chad, Jake and Zack Hayward and granddaughter Kristen Kaffko, her husband Joseph and several nieces and nephews. His sister Arlene Johnson and two brothers, Richard Hayward and Dr Robert Hayward, predeceased Ted.

A “Celebration of Ted’s Life” service will be conducted on Saturday, January 23, at 1 pm at the Monadnock Covenant Church at 90 Base Hill Road in Keene. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ted’s memory can be made to the American Heart Association, New Hampshire chapter, 2 Wall Street, Manchester, NH 03101. The Fletcher Funeral Home is handling arrangements, 603-352-4541.