Becker helped shape Lewes

Lewes lost a community leader Oct. 5, with the passing of former Mayor Ted Becker. At 75, Becker’s legacy as a selfless public servant has left an indelible mark on Lewes. His work as an elected official, a business owner and a volunteer with numerous nonprofits and boards changed Lewes and Delaware for the better. 

Becker was always approachable and friendly. He could often be found walking around the city, leaving his Second Street home for a stroll before heading to work at city hall or to the office with his partner Joe Stewart. 

Becker jumped into the political realm in 2004. After a decade on city council, he was the obvious successor for Mayor Jim Ford in 2014. 

As Lewes’ leader, Becker led meetings well, keeping his council members on task without letting them get too into the weeds. He also allowed plenty of opportunity for residents to share their concerns about the topic at hand. 

Out in public, Becker encouraged and supported residents in their endeavors. In a Facebook post, Lewes Lights co-founder Debra Evalds said Becker not only supported their COVID-era idea to light the city – and people’s moods – with holiday lights, but he also expected it to become an annual tradition. Becker was there when they flipped the switch in Highland Acres. 

Becker’s contributions began long before he was an elected official. He and Joe led a community-wide effort to save Lewes’ waterfront from development. They each were founding members of the Greater Lewes Foundation, which raised $11 million to buy the land and create the park. It all came to fruition in 2008, after Becker had been elected to city council.

Preserving Lewes’ history and honoring its past were also among Becker’s gifts. As mayor, he navigated the highly controversial idea to rename Fourth Street in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He worked with the African American community and found a compromise to make the name change honorific, acknowledging Lewes’ disappearing Black community. The effort also led to the formation of the African American heritage commission, which has gone on to do great work, including renaming a beach in honor of Johnnie Walker.

As the community mourns Ted Becker, it’s also important to celebrate his life—a life dedicated to service, compassion, and community. His legacy will endure in the hearts of those he touched and the projects he championed.