Life was his love of sports

THEODORE “TED” ARGOTT

* Born on: April 23, 1936

* Died on: Oct. 7, 2005

* Memorial service: A memorial service was conducted last Sunday for family and friends

* Survived by: His wife, Jeanne Argott; sons Bim and Mark Argott; daughter Tammi Delgado; and one grandchild

Here’s a tidbit that sheds some light on Ted Argott’s sports fanaticism: In lieu of flowers to honor the late Costa Mesa resident, his family is asking that donations be sent to the Estancia High School Athletic Booster Club.

Argott never attended Estancia High, and his children graduated from the school more than 25 years ago. Yet, Argott was a such staunch supporter of the school’s athletic teams, he often attended multiple sporting events each week.

“We’d all go and sit with him at football games,” said Tammi Delgado, Argott’s daughter. “He was so devoted. He’d call us before every game and say, ‘Are you guys going tonight?’”

Argott’s family is also requesting money go to the American Diabetes Assn., because he was a diabetic.

Argott died Oct. 7 of congestive heart failure. He was 69.

Born in Santa Paula, Calif., Argott was the youngest of 16 children and the last to survive. His mother and father both died before he was 14 years. That forced Argott to drop out of school and begin working.

“He grew up without much money,” Delgado said. “He said it was rough. But his brothers and sisters raised him. They made the best of the situation.”

As an adult, Argott moved to the San Fernando Valley, where he met his future wife, Jeanne. After Argott got a job working for the city of Costa Mesa, the couple bought a home in the city for $11,000 in 1961, Delgado said.

At first, Argott was paid $1.35 an hour to lay asphalt on city sidewalks. He later became a street sweeper, a job be held for much of his career.

When working the 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. shift, Argott’s daughter said he saw some interesting sights. One night, he saved a man who had been involved in an overturned vehicle.

Argott took pride in taking care of the city. He swept in the Costa Mesa Fish Fry Parade and other civic events. He liked to wear his uniform -- an orange shirt and brown pants -- and often wouldn’t take those clothes off after work.

During leisure time, Argott enjoyed photographing classic cars and taking his family on trips to Yosemite.

Sports were always his first love. He coached the Harbor Area baseball team and stayed involved with his children’s teams from tee-ball through high school.

“He loved coaching baseball and always wanted to go to Angels games,” Delgado said.

For 10 years, Argott moved away from Costa Mesa and commuted more than an hour to work.

“He was loyal to the city,” Delgado said. “That’s where he had always been. He was very close with his co-workers. They considered him a brother.”

Many of them were invited to the life celebration ceremony for Argott held last Sunday.

Delgado and her husband, Joe, live only a few minutes away from the house where Argott and his wife lived for decades.

In addition to his city work, Argott was a ticket taker at the Orange County Fair and ran a gardening service with the help of his children. After retiring from the city, Argott was a school-crossing guard near his home.

He worked until his legs no longer would hold the weight of his body.

“He still wanted to go to work, but we wouldn’t let him go,” said Hayley Delgado, Argott’s granddaughter.

Argott finally conceded. After all, being retired meant having more time to attend the big game. (LA)Ted Argott found that being retired meant having more time to attend the big game.20051030ios62lkn20051030ios7cvkn(LA)Ted Argott found that being retired meant having more time to attend the big game.