Obituaries : Ted Siegel, Retired Principal at San Fernando Valley Schools

Ted Siegel, former principal of several high schools in the San Fernando Valley, has died.

A 25-year resident of Woodland Hills, Siegel succumbed to cancer Tuesday--eight days shy of his 70th birthday--at his home, according to his son Steve Siegel of Agoura Hills.

A Cleveland native and California resident since 1930, Siegel married at 19 and received his bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 1951. He then moved his family to Burbank and began his teaching and administrative career, which included stints at Sun Valley Junior High, Roosevelt High School and Hamilton High School in Los Angeles.

Siegel moved his family to Woodland Hills in the early 1970s, shortly before he began his eight-year tenure as principal of Chatsworth High School. After a brief retirement in the early ‘80s, Siegel went back to work, finishing his career at Canoga Park and Cleveland high schools.

“He loved enjoying life with my mom . . . they spent over 50 years as best friends,” said Steve Siegel. “He never noticed being retired because it just gave him more time to do what he wanted to do, and that’s to be with my mom.”

Last month, Siegel and his wife, Jean, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows.

Siegel is also survived by a daughter, Sheri Ziebell of Woodland Hills; another son, Richard Siegel of Woodland Hills, and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte 91010.