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Edward "Ted" Torrance was born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. As a young man, he would often spend summers with relatives in West Chester. He was a graduated of West Catholic High School for Boys, class of 1949. Ted's father was a doctor and Ted went to Notre Dame as a pre-med student. After one year, he left Notre Dame for Villanova where he graduated as an education major. He soon would be drafted and served two years in the Army. After the service, Ted had the opportunity to teach at a new suburban Catholic high school opening in West Chester in 1957 called Bishop Shanahan. He jumped at the opportunity and would serve as baseball coach for his first 20 years. He was also the first cross-country coach. His cross-country teams would dominate the Southern Chester County League. Over a six year period, his teams had a record of 128 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie, including 62 straight unbeaten meets with 56 straight unbeaten and untied meets. Ted was also a junior varsity basketball coach for a number of years and even served as an assistant football coach for one season. His teaching career lasted even longer. It concluded with 50 years in the classroom in 2007. His athletic involvement continued, however, with Ted serving as Athletic Director at the new Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown. Now retired, he has been awarded the title of Athletic Director Emeritus. Another side of Ted Torrance was community service in his home town of West Chester. He became Director of the West Chester Community Softball League which became the West Chester Adult Softball League. In 1980 he would become Director of the West Chester Adult Baseball League and with reorganization became field director. Over the years he has worked on the field, called games, and was the official scorekeeper until the West Chester Adult Baseball League terminated in the spring of this year. It should be noted that in his younger years, Ted umpired softball and baseball games and sometimes would fill in until the missing umpire would show up. Ted Torrance also worked as Summer Playground Director at the Borough's Walnut Street Playground (Rustin Park) in the late 1950s through the 1970s. Ted also served for many years as a sportswriter for the Daily Local News. Up until his friend Tom Taylor's death in 2012, Ted and Tom would take off after the Adult League Playoffs for their annual two-week minor league tour. This was an end-of-the-season ritual for two close baseball friends. Looking back at Ted's career in sport, one might say he was a "man of all seasons". Ted married the love of his life, Marlene Taylor of West Chester. They have three children: Eddie III, Jim, and Susan. Marlene passed away in 2003.
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