Teddy Forman Poe passed away peacefully at the age of 98 on August 30, 2026, surrounded by her family in Kitchener, Ontario. Teddy was always eager to learn more about the world, which truly defined her life.
Born Edna (Teddy) Rhoda Adelaide Forman on April 18, 1928, she grew up in Lindsay, Ontario and the Balsam Lake/Kirkfield area. In her youth, she moved to Toronto and graduated from the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts in the early 1950s-one of just a few women to achieve this.
You could describe Teddy in many ways: wonderful, beautiful, charming, fun-loving, fascinating, friendly-and endlessly curious. She was an avid follower of current events and a loyal listener to CNN and CBC. Only non-fiction appealed to her; novels didn’t teach her enough.
A natural storyteller, Teddy was a trailblazing Canadian broadcaster and TV personality during television’s golden age when there were few female presenters. She opened doors for female journalists like Adrienne Arsenault and Clarkson as they shaped the industry together. ‘Miss Teddy’ played a key role as an educator at CBC and CHCH in the important new genre of educational children’s broadcasting for a generation of TV-watching kids.
Teddy was courageous, glamorous, and independent; she traveled around the globe at a time when single women typically didn’t do such things. She had countless stories about influential people she met while visiting England, Italy, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, India, Israel and Lebanon. Her travels even led to a stunning picture of young Teddy Forman admiring carpets in Kashmir featured in National Geographic back in November 1958.
Teddy is predeceased by her husband Robert C. Poe but leaves behind their children Rick (Yvonne) Poe from San Antonio, Texas; Victoria (Gary) Pundsack Poe from Damascus, Ontario; along with stepsons Clare (Kathy), whose children are Alicia and Justin (California); Robert Poe (Arizona) with sons Robert and David. Many grandchildren are also mourning her loss: Rachel (Jared), Rebekah, RJ, Miles (Veronika), Azra (Brandon), plus great-grandson Nikita.
Up until last year, Teddy enjoyed summers at her Balsam Lake cottage with help from Team Teddy and Catherine. Even into her 80s, she loved playing tennis, bathing in Balsam Lake, and spending time with friends and family. Teddy,(also known as Hessy or Annie), was our matriarch during Happy Hour, and our big extended family already misses our Queen of Balsam Lake.
Teddy often shared how she feels like a sparkle particle(beyond her earthly existence)and that we’re all connected forever, sparkling together.
A private Celebration of Life will take place later on. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Walls to Bridges National Program https://wallstobridges. ca/donate/
Sparkle on, Teddy.
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