Theodore S. Katsigianis

Theodore Stephen Katsigianis

Theodore Katsigianis was born on September 16, 1949, in Brooklyn NY. He passed away August 8, 2025, at his home in Asheville NC. He was 75 years old.

Even though Ted spent his early years growing up in Brooklyn, he was never a city kid. Every summer he and his parents, sister and brother, would pile into the family station wagon and head up to the family’s home in Ashland NY. There Ted was surrounded by extended family, spending every waking moment on the nearby dairy farms. That is where Ted’s love of animals began.

In the early 1960’s the family moved from Brooklyn to Dix Hills NY where Ted graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School. He received his BA in Liberal Arts and a MA in Biology from SUNY Oneonta.

In 1975 and 1979 Ted earned his master’s degree and doctoral degree from Penn State University. While a student at Penn State, Ted served on the Penn State-U.S. Agency for International Development Bahamas project team as an on-site animal scientist. He was elected to several honor societies including Sigma Xi, Gamma Sigma Delta and Phi Kappa Phi.

Ted was outstanding in his field, winning many accolades from his peers. The North American International Livestock Exposition honored Ted in 2009 with the Vision Award for outstanding service to the industry.

In 2016, Ted received the Alumni Fellow Award from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, followed by an induction into the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Armsby Society in 2017. In 2018, Ted was celebrated with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in Animal Sciences.

After graduating from Penn State, Ted was assistant professor of animal sciences at the University of Maryland where he was responsible for development of extension educational programs. He was also an assistant extension professor of animal sciences at the University of Kentucky. There he was a member of a team credited for the development and execution of statewide educational livestock programs.

In 1983, Ted joined the Biltmore Company in Asheville, North Carolina. As Vice President of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Ted led the company’s programs in sustainable agriculture on Biltmore’s 1800-acre estate, implementing the farm-to-table philosophy long before it became a popular concept. He also worked with the Equestrian Center programs and was a team member in helping to create Long Valley Vineyard, which he managed for 17 years. He retired from Biltmore in 2020 after nearly four decades of service.

Ted has been featured in articles and shows in the Washington Post, Progressive Farmer, Penn State Ag Science, WYFF-TV, UNC-TV and “I Am Angus”. He served on local, regional and national agricultural industry boards, including North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Foundation, North Carolina Angus Association and the American Dorper Sheep Breeders’ Society.

Ted was a world traveler, visiting Greece, Italy, England, Scotland, China, India, New Zealand, Australia and traveling extensively throughout the U.S. But his true happy place was in Upstate NY where he spent countless hours creating wonderful memories.

Ted had a wide circle of friends. He was fiercely loyal, cultivating friendships in every phase of his life. If you were fortunate to call him a friend or mentor, you knew he took a genuine interest in your life. You probably even received a package from him, maybe a book, an old photograph or something silly he thought you might like. Ted had a bit of a joker side to him. There was always something to laugh about, recalling many extraordinary moments, always looking to create new ones.

Ted will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his sister, Melissa (Tom) Pollak, brother John (Janine) Katsigianis, Uncle Gus Zaferiou, cousins George (Paris) Zaferiou, Amelia (Tom) Van Noy, James Filou, Toni Filou and numerous nieces and nephews.

If you would like, you may honor Ted with a donation to his favorite charities.

Black Mountain Children’s Home

80 Lake Eden Road

Black Mountain NC 29711

Katsigianis/Cathopoulis Beef and Sheep Barns Endowment at Penn State

Contact: Abby Hofman-Floyd

Amh143@psu.