Claude Eugene Tew

Engineer, Inventor

Claude Eugene Tew of Rotonda West, Florida passed away peacefully on May 6, 2023, in Port Charlotte, Florida after a brief illness. Claude was born on March 20, 1945, in Washington D.C. to Frank F. Tew, Jr and Alice Amrin Tew. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Birgitta (Bibi) Tew, his sisters Margaret Ellsworth, Marcia Patterson, Karen Fahler, Janet Warren, Anne Sutton, and Susan Young. He is also survived by many adoring nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Claude graduated in 1963 from Surrattsville High School in Clinton, Maryland, and went on to earn a BS degree in Electrical Engineering in 1967 from the University of Maryland. The following year he began a highly successful 30-year career with Texas Instruments.

Claude and Bibi met in Spain and were married in a 1972 ceremony at Valley Lee Episcopal Church in Piney Point, Maryland. The new couple settled in Dallas, Texas, where they resided until moving to Delaware after Claude’s retirement.

Claude had an exceptional ability to focus his engineering talent on specific challenges that required enormous dedication and focus. This skill helped him find innovative solutions to some of the pioneering projects he helped develop. He earned several patents, and was a company leader in laser technology, night vision, and heat sensing devices. Because of their defense applications, Mr. Tew worked closely with the military, and deployed for several months aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. Later in his career he helped develop color and sound technologies for television, helping pioneer digital reflecting technology for rear-projection T.V. systems. Texas Instruments won a science Emmy in 2002, in part because of Mr. Tew’s ideas.

Whether living in Texas, Delaware, or Florida, Claude devoted much of his time to his community churches and their choruses. He was a generous benefactor and enthusiastic chorister with a wonderful voice. Throughout his life, he looked forward to days when he could raise that voice in praise of God.

Claude and Bibi loved to travel and spent large periods of time exploring the world with family and friends. Claude collected antique firearms and eventually taught himself to refurbish and even make exquisite weapons on his own. He was a car enthusiast and collector who also raced motocross. Claude and Bibi always adored animals, with their pets Daisy, Chico, Nikki, Buddy, Heidi, Patrick, and many others basking in Claude and Bibi’s love for them.

A graveside service for Claude will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Gulf Pines Memorial Park, 2401 Englewood Rd, Englewood, FL 34223.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lemonbayfh.com for the Tew family.