Saratoga Springs, NY - Theodore H. (Ted) Bence, age 70, passed away May 27 at his home in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Ted was born February 28, 1952, in Watertown, NY. He was the son of the late Fred W. Bence and Blanche J. Bence. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his brother Fred R. Bence, sister-in-law Sue Bence, and brother-in-law Joseph E. Landolfi. Ted is survived by his sister, Dorothy Landolfi Forte (Mario), Clifton Park, NY, nephews Jay Landolfi (Melissa) and Jeff Bence (Danielle), and his nieces Karyn Landolfi, Jennifer Cornwell (Tom) and Kathy Ozimek (Michael). In addition, he leaves behind eight great nephews, three great nieces as well as cousins, friends and his beloved cat, Shadow.

He graduated from Watertown High School in 1970 and was a force on the varsity basketball team coached by Hall of Fame coach Lew Kibling. Bence was recruited by SUNY Potsdam Coach Jerry Welsh and he played basketball for the Bears under Welsh from 1970-74. In his career under Welsh, Bence averaged over 13 points in his sophomore year, 16 as a junior and nearly 18 points in his senior campaign. Coach Welsh said "Ted respected his coaches and teammates and was a very unselfish player who rarely made a mental mistake. He was an ideal guy to coach and a player who wanted to get better every day." Welsh added "Ted was a very intelligent person who cared for others." Bence remains SUNY Potsdam's all-time leading rebounder with 887 and is 10th on the college's all-time scoring list with 1307 points. In 1986 he was inducted into the SUNY Potsdam Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2021 he became an inductee of the Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame, an honor he was able to celebrate with family, friends and former teammates. He graduated from the State University of New York at Potsdam in 1974.

Ted was a member of the Watertown Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge 496 and was Past Exalted Ruler in 2004. He was an avid New York Yankees fan, and his family and friends will miss his Yankee updates on Facebook.

A memorial service is planned for later this summer. His final resting place will be at the Pulaski Cemetery in Pulaski, NY.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to any of the following charities:

Act With Respect Always, ℅ Rich Johns, President AWRA

93 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

www.actwithrespectalways.com

American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org

Potsdam College Foundation-Men's Basketball, ℅ Jim Bechtel, Maxcy Hall, SUNY Potsdam

44 Pierrepont Avenue,

Potsdam, NY 13676;

or the Saratoga County Animal Shelter

6010 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com