Ted McToldridge, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s first employee and the man credited with spearheading its development through the early years, has passed away.
He died Monday at age 92.
“It is with great sadness that we announce Edward “Ted” McToldridge, the first director of the Santa Barbara Zoo, and perhaps the person who did the most to shape the early years of the Santa Barbara Zoo, has passed away,” the zoo said in a statement.
McToldridge, a local contractor, was hired by the Child Estate Foundation in 1964 as the zoo’s park superintendent, and later assumed the title of zoo director.
McToldridge led the organization through its early development, while often caring for the animals and maintaining the grounds himself.
“Exceedingly resourceful, McToldridge managed to build a lot of the zoo with very little money,” the zoo said in a press release. “His creativity and eye for aesthetics is evident everywhere on zoo grounds, from lush landscaping donated by local nurseries and Lotusland to the original animal exhibits that he designed and built himself.”
“Ted dedicated his life to building the Santa Barbara Zoo,” said Rich Block, zoo president/CEO. “His passion for animal care ran deep, and his vision and dream for what this place could be has truly become a reality that millions of guests from near and far get to enjoy today.”
“Under McToldridge’s leadership, the zoo grew from a dream to a multi-million dollar nonprofit organization and a beloved community treasure,” according to the zoo’s release. “It was his vision to create a world-class zoo.
“Today, the Santa Barbara Zoo hosts nearly half a million visitors each year, is consistently ranked as Santa Barbara County’s top tourist attraction, and is recognized as one of America’s finest zoos, maintaining accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1982 and delighting millions of guests since its doors opened in 1963.”
McToldridge was at the helm of the zoo for more than three decades and retired in 1997.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Nancy; his children, Tina York (Todd), Terri Stewart (Mike), Teddy McToldridge (Michelle), Tara Weilbacher (Drew); and his grandchildren, Zechariah, Elijah, and Jude York; Lauren, Samantha, and Jack Stewart; Colten, Daisy, Scarlet, and Talon McToldridge; and Marie and Finley Weilbacher.
McToldridge family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Santa Barbara Zoo in his memory to continue his life’s work and honor his legacy.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.