Edward Nicholas George Cleary

Edward Nicholas George Cleary, a fine British gentleman, passed away on December 6, 2024.

He was an engineer, a world traveler, a Christian missionary, and husband to K-Ellen, who

preceded him in death. Ted was a humble man who lived simply. Christ was the center of his

life, and throughout his life, he served others in His name. Ted will be missed by all.

Ted was born on Christmas Eve in 1936 in Filton, near Bristol, in Gloucestershire, England. He

was the second son of Anthony and Myrtal Cleary. Two things in Ted’s formative years affected

his life. First, Ted grew up in a household with deaf mute parents. He said this made him

independent, and that he helped his parents “speak” to others. It gave him a lifelong

appreciation and understanding of those who are different. Second, during the Blitz in 1940 in

World War II, Ted and his brother Tony were sent by themselves on the train to northern

England, so they would be safe. He was separated from his parents for about six months

before he was able to return to Bristol.

Ted studied engineering at North Gloucester Technical College and Crownfield University

College of Aeronautical Engineering. He graduated around 1960 with a master’s degree and

went to work in Bristol. He worked for Roto British Messier which made airplane propellers.

After a few years of work, Ted sent out around 50 resumes to companies in the United States.

Solar Turbines sent him a job offer with a salary included. Around 1965, Ted got on a ship and

came to the US. He landed on the east coast and took the bus to San Diego.

Ted took an English class when he first came to San Diego so he could speak “American”

English. The teacher was also a leader of the Mission Playhouse. She recruited Ted to be in a

play because they needed a man with a British accent. K-Ellen Curtis, his future wife, was a

seamstress making costumes at the playhouse. K-Ellen invited him to her parent’s house for a

meal, they hit it off and began their lifelong journey together. In 1970, Ted left Solar Turbines to

travel the world with K-Ellen. They went to over 50 countries in four years. When they ran out of

money, they worked in Tehran, Iran for a year. They loved exploring the world together.

Ted went back to work at Solar Turbines upon his return to San Diego. Ted worked on

combustion system aerodynamic and cycle design. One time he blew something up and thought

he was going to get fired. But his boss just told him, “Now we know what not to do!”

On December 9, 1984, Ted married the love of his life, K-Ellen. They continued living and

working in San Diego. They still traveled, often in their VW van. Ted said he’d traveled to many

places, but that San Diego was his home. Ted also had an artistic side. He was an avid

photographer and an accomplished pianist, who played for hours on his parlor grand piano.

Ted’s Christian faith was very important to him. He prayed the rosary and read the Bible daily.

Ted traveled to Medjugorje several times on pilgrimages and the Virgin Mary was very important

to him. When he retired from Solar Turbines at age 62, (circa 1999), Ted and K-Ellen became

missionaries in Rwanda. They spent over ten years working in Rwanda to minister to the people

who had just suffered a genocide. Ministering to the orphans and widows was part of their

mission. Ted lived his life to inspire others. Both Ted and K-Ellen believed their life was an

example to the Rwandans on how a Christian married couple should treat each other. Ted and

K-Ellen loved Rwanda, life was slower there and people were more important to each other.

Many of their friends from San Diego were lucky enough to visit them. Their legacy lives on in

the school they started, Community Christian School in Nyanza, Rwanda. It has over 170

students from nursery school to third grade.

Ted’s life changed in 2018 when K-Ellen passed away. He missed her dearly, but he continued

to live his Christian faith. He was a humble, kind and generous man. We will all remember Ted

with a grin on his face. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Doctors Without Borders.