Terry James Madden

Terry J. Madden, 70, passed away Saturday, November 20, 2021 at the JT Rogers Hospice Care Center. He was born in Cleveland and lived in Akron his entire life, the majority in his childhood home in Highland Square.
Terry graduated St. Vincent High School Class of 1969 (where he wore #23 on the basketball team decades before LeBron), proudly served as a combat engineer in the US Army in Vietnam (where he earned the nickname "Silk" due to his silky-smooth softball catch-and-release motion), and was a concrete foreman for Akron Concrete Corporation for 40 years.
He introduced his children to proper comedy, such as Monty Python and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." He enjoyed cooking for his family and friends, including fried chicken, chili that was too spicy for him to eat himself, and homemade pizza that took all day and cost about $26 a slice. An avid Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland sports, and old-school NASCAR fan, Terry often reminded his children that the last time the Browns won a championship he had to listen to the game on the radio because the TV was broken. He was proud to be a scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 69 and a Sunday school teacher at Fairlawn-West UCC.
In more recent years, Terry relaxed via "Bubbles with Bublé" (baths while listening to Michael Bublé), secretly knew the lyrics to every Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune, and would regularly make ladies swoon with an Elvis or Sinatra song on karaoke night.
At his watering holes (The Brown Derby, EJ Hammonds, Nickelby's, and Cedar Wings over the years), he was often accused of telling the same stories again and again, to which he replied, "That's because they're all actually true!" Terry was always quick with a smart remark, made friends with everyone, had a highly tuned BS detector, and was as bull-headed as they come.
Those who knew him will remember his humor and his generosity, his bravery in the face of adversity, and how much he loved all those close to him. Terry wanted to be a hero for everyone he loved, and frequently described himself as "the luckiest man in the world, with the best kids, the best siblings, and the best friends anyone could ask for."
Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Virginia, and his brothers, Dennis and Kevin. He will be missed by his four children, Brian, Meredith (Mike), Dennis (Sheila), and Jack (Alisha); step-daughter Jen; grandsons Luka and Henry; siblings, Michael (Lynda), Catherine (Bob) Burse, Patricia (David) Grow, Mary (Larry) McKenzie, Phyllis Madden (Kevin) and Lawrence (Wendy) Madden; 10 nieces and nephews; 22 great-nieces and great-nephews; and many friends.
Friends may call from 11AM-1PM Monday, December 20 at the Anthony Funeral Home, Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel, 1990 S Main St in Akron. Interment at Ohio Western Reserve will follow at 2:15PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, vvmf.org.