John Sedjal “Ted” Sapp, 88, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Sunday, September 22, 2019, at Curahealth in Jacksonville, Fla.
Mr. Sapp was born November 2, 1930 in Hawthorne, Fla. He moved to Fernandina Beach in 1944 from White Oak, Fla.
He graduated valedictorian from Fernandina Beach High School, Class of 1947, where he was a thespian and played football, basketball, and baseball. Later in life, he also enjoyed bowling and golfing.
After graduation, he went to work as an accountant and bookkeeper for Quinn Menhaden Fisheries, where he met his first wife, Connie. He was admired and respected by the employees of the company, so much so that they named a fishing boat after him – The Mr. Ted. He spent 22 years helping to expand the company across the Gulf Coast, from Fernandina to Port Arthur, Texas. After returning to Fernandina in 1969, he began working for Stan Murphy in Jacksonville. He later became an agent enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service and served as an accountant and bookkeeper in Fernandina until his retirement.
Most recently a member of Memorial United Methodist Church, Ted especially loved attending his Sunday school class. Ted was also a longtime member of First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, trustee, and treasurer. He was also a member of the choir and taught Sunday school. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He was a master joker and teaser. You could never get a straight answer out of him.
Ted was predeceased by his wife, Concettina Tringali Sapp, who passed away in 1980; a granddaughter, Diana Miller Sallee; and two brothers, Houston Sapp and George Elwood Sapp.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Ava McCook Swails Sapp of Fernandina Beach; his children, Cheryl Benson (Randy) of Atlantic Beach, Fla., Philip Sapp (Susan Woolfe) of Hernando, Fla., David Sapp (Cynthia) of Fernandina Beach, Len Swails (Diana) of Fernandina Beach, Patricia Saunders (Orville) of Fernandina Beach, Sandra Jubito (Tim) of Yulee, Fla., Paula Thompson (Darrell) of Prattville, Ala., and Glenda Luckie (Michael) of Fort Mill, S.C.; two sisters, Ophelia Leibtag of Gainesville, Ga. and Lottie Heiermann of Traverse City, Mich.; 19 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 27, 2019 at Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 601 Centre St. in Fernandina Beach.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Memorial United Methodist Church.
To sign Mr. Sapp's online register book and leave condolences, please visit the Green Pine website at www.greenpinefuneral.com.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery