| Theodore J. Sophocleus | |
| Birth Date: | 28 May 1939 |
| Birth Place: | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Office: | Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 32 |
| Term Start: | January 9, 1999 |
| Term End: | June 8, 2018 |
| Predecessor: | Michael W. Burns |
| Constituency: | Anne Arundel County, Maryland, U.S. |
| Office2: | Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 30 |
| Term Start2: | June 25, 1993 |
| Term End2: | 1995 |
| Predecessor2: | Tyras S. Athey |
| Successor2: | Mary Ann Love, Michael W. Burns, and James E. Rzepkowski |
| Constituency2: | District 30, Anne Arundel County |
| Party: | Democrat |
Theodore J. Sophocleus (May 28, 1939 – June 8, 2018) was an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Before seeking political office, he was a pharmacist and a drug store chain executive.
Sophocleus was born in Baltimore, on May 29, 1939, the son of Greek-American immigrants John and Despina Sophocleus. As a youth, he lived in the city's Highlandtown neighborhood and attended Patterson Park High School in Baltimore. After high school, he graduated from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1962.
After graduation, Sophocleus worked for the Read's Drug Store chain from 1960 to 1977, rising to an executive position. He subsequently was an executive with a Texas drug store chain before moving to Linthicum, Maryland, where he opened his own pharmacy.
Sophocleus first served two terms on the elected County Council of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, beginning in 1982. He took an active role on his constituents' behalf regarding noise abatement issues at Baltimore–Washington International Airport in Linthicum. He ran unsuccessfully for Anne Arundel County Executive in 1990 and 1994.
Sophocleus began serving in the Maryland House of Delegates in 1993, when he was appointed by Governor William Donald Schaefer to replace Tyras S. Athey (who had resigned). Sophocleus was elected in his own right in 1998 and was serving in his fourth full term in the House of Delegates at the time of his death, representing Maryland's District 32 in Anne Arundel County.
He served on many committees, including the Appropriations Committee, and was also Deputy Majority Whip.[1]
While in the House, Delegate Sophocleus:
Voters to choose three:
| Name | Votes | Percent | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pamela Beidle, Dem. | 17,964 | 18.6% | Won | |
| Mary Ann Love, Dem. | 17,697 | 18.3% | Won | |
| Theodore Sophocleus, Dem. | 17,661 | 18.3% | Won | |
| Mark S. Chang, Sr, Rep. | 16,569 | 17.1% | Lost | |
| Terry R. Gilleland, Jr., Rep. | 13,632 | 14.1% | Lost | |
| Wayne Charles Smith, Rep. | 13,153 | 13.6% | Lost | |
| Other Write-Ins | 75 | 0.1% | Lost |
Voters to choose three:
| Name | Votes | Percent | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James E. Rzepkowski, Rep. | 18,299 | 19.84% | Won | |
| Theodore Sophocleus, Dem. | 16,842 | 18.26% | Won | |
| Mary Ann Love, Dem. | 16,646 | 18.05% | Won | |
| Robert G. Pepersack, Sr, Rep. | 14,628 | 15.86% | Lost | |
| Victor A. Sulin, Dem. | 13,694 | 14.85% | Lost | |
| David P. Starr, Rep. | 12,020 | 13.04% | Lost | |
| Other Write-Ins | 82 | 0.09% | Lost |
Voters to choose three:
| Name | Votes | Percent | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Ann Love, Dem. | 15,823 | 19% | Won |
| Theodore Sophocleus, Dem. | 15,382 | 18% | Won |
| James E. Rzepkowski, Rep. | 14,959 | 18% | Won |
| Michael W. Burns, Rep. | 13,247 | 16% | Lost |
| Victor Sulin, Dem. | 12,658 | 15% | Lost |
| Betty Ann O'Neill, Dem. | 11,752 | 14% | Lost |
Sophocleus died on June 8, 2018, while hospitalized in Baltimore. He was survived by his wife, Alice.[12] Upon his death, both fellow Democrats and Republicans in the House of Delegates lauded his bipartisan helpfulness. Said one Republican Delegate: "Ted Sophocleus was one of the finest people I've met in public office. He was honest, true to himself and his constituents, and loved his family dearly."[13]
Sophocleus was inducted by his alma mater into the Patterson Park High School "Alumni Hall of Fame". He was honored by the Maryland State's Attorneys' Association as "Legislator of the Year" in 2004. The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence also named him "Legislator of the Year", in 2005.