Dr. Theodore Elliott, '31 will be inducted to the Alumni Wall of Fame as a Sidney's only centenarian, having celebrated his 100th birthday last November. Dr. Elliott was born, raised, and has lived his entire life in Sidney. Following his high school graduation in 1931, he went to the University of Rochester, graduating in 1936, and subsequently studied Optometry at the New England College of Optometry. As a college student 'Ted' was on the swim team and tennis team, and was the captain and manager of the church basketball team. Following college he maintained a life-long hobby in genealogy and in photography.
Dr. Elliott's practice in optometry began in Sidney in 1936, but was interrupted by two years of service in the U.S. Army during World War II, as a 1st Lieutenant in the 81st Medical and Field Hospital Unit serving in England, France and Germany. While in war-torn Germany he was a volunteer Advance Scout to search out locations for field hospitals at the front - a mission that required solitary scouting at night. The 81st Medical Unit was the first to assist in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp, and to treat those who had been imprisoned. Dr. Elliott received several decorations for his military service.
While overseas he met his wife LaRue who was stationed also in the 81st and they were together until her passing in 2009. Their children are Nancy Elliott Tueller of Provo, Utah and Robert F. Elliott of Lawrence, Kansas. Ted has six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Dr. Elliott practiced optometry in Sidney from 1936-1996; sixty years of service to more than three generations of patients. He was known for providing free service to those most in need. Ted was a member of Rotary for over sixty years with a perfect attendance record. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Optometric Association and Co-Director of the Family History Center at the Church of Latter-Day Saints Chapel in Oneonta.
He was the June 2013 recipient of Sidney's Vision 21 Community Pride Award.
Dr. Elliott is a great supporter of Sidney Central School, his alma mater, and of the SCS Alumni Association. He proudly leads the All-Alumni March of Classes at each reunion, even with a cane, and more recently from a wheel chair. A resident of Sidney for 100 years, he now resides in the New York State Veterans Home in Oxford, N.Y.