Joseph Edward “Ted” Pearson, who died on August 7 at the age of 89, has been remembered as a respected educator and road running stalwart.

Pearson, who is survived by his wife Joyce, his three children, Julia Hawley, Kevin Pearson and Jane Mackie, was born in Hull, England, on October 11, 1936.

One of the founder members of Teachers Rugby Football Club, the former Warwick Academy teacher was the grandfather of Olympians, Erica Hawley and Shelley Pearson.

As narrated by Mackie, his youngest daughter, Pearson’s lifelong bond with sports began at an early age, deeply influencing the person he became. One of those ways was accidentally being selected for paratrooper training.

“When he started his British Military training, he was asked, ‘Can you jump?’ and he, of course, replied in the affirmative,” Mackie told The Royal Gazette.

“The next day he learnt that being good at jumping meant jumping out of a plane, with a parachute on his back.

“Prior to his military training, dad completed a three-year science degree and a one-year postgraduate teacher training at Manchester University.

“He was excited to get a teaching position at Warwick Academy, Bermuda, in 1961. He worked closely with Gabe Rodrigues, who taught physics in the classroom next door.

“According to a former student, they were the “fun” ones and certainly “memorable”. Gabe and dad were founding members of Teachers Rugby Club. In his spare time he also played football and hockey socially.

“During the early days in Bermuda, dad discovered his passion for the ocean. He sailed on The Elizabeth, a Bermuda Fitted Dinghy, with another Warwick Academy colleague, Mervyn White.

“Later in life, dad decided to take up sailing again, this time with the much faster J24 class. He sailed with Gary Taylor and Trevor Boyce and enjoyed success, or so they claim.”

While he loved football, rugby, hockey and sailing, Pearson later discovered that speed was his strength.

“Dad began road running during the late 1970s and quickly became a dedicated long-distance runner ,” the daughter said.

“He ran the London, New York, Bermuda and Boston marathons. Dad was an overachiever when it came to long distance running, in 1982, he ran the Boston, New York and London marathons.

“His goal was to go under the three-hour mark but he was just over at 3:06:00. He loved running May 24 alongside his friend Trevor Boyce.

“All three of his children, wife and a granddaughter have followed in his running steps and completed this iconic event.

“When his son Kevin won May 24 as an 18-year old, it was truly a remarkable and special day for dad.

“While dad loved participating in sport, he was also generous with his encouragement and giving back.

“He was the treasurer of the Bermuda National Athletics Association for a number of years and spent countless hours supporting his children and grandchildren over many years.

“Some of the highlights would be watching his two Olympian granddaughters, Shelley Pearson and Erica Hawley, compete, his daughter Julia race triathlons and road cycling, his son Kevin run track meets and road races.

“Dad may not have been the ‘best’ runner, rugby player, sailor, squash player or golfer, but he inspired us to give everything a go because sometimes, through sport, you might just find your passion and great friendships along the way.”

Julia Hawley, Pearson’s oldest daughter, described her late father as an enthusiastic fan who knew a lot about sports.

“Dad was such a sports buff,” she said.

“I remember watching him run his marathons and May 24 when I was a teenager. Later on, I ran May 24 with him and I look back now and think how special that was.

“Thereafter, there were many trips tied to sports with his family. Hawaii for the Ironman, Rio de Janeiro at the Olympics, Australia and Birmingham at the Commonwealth Games, so many great memories.

“Even at the very end, dad was watching all the football World Cup Games — he even picked Spain to win. Our lives were all so linked through sport and he will be missed.”

Kevin Pearson, his only son, has fond memories of watching his father playing rugby for Teachers with the Hurdle brothers, Derek and Denton.

“Dad always loved his sports and he would try his hand at everything,” he said.

“My youngest sports memories are watching him play with his beloved Teachers rugby team at the old national stadium [National Sports Club] with the fearsome Hurdle brothers.

“We just grew up naturally with sports — there was never any pressure on us to perform though, for him it was always about the journey and not the destination.

“When we did start to take sports more seriously, he was always there to support us in whatever way he could, but without ever trying to push us in any particular direction.

“He supported all of — he literally had 45 years of travelling internationally to watch both his children and grandchildren compete in all kinds of events — a really special and dedicated father and sportsman to the end.”