T. Hinson, leader in Camden

Theodore Hinson was the godfather to several generations of Camden's community activists - people who now serve as the city's movers and shakers, people like Mayor Dana L. Redd, Democratic Party leader George Norcross 3d, and former Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez.

The list of people whose political careers he guided as Camden City Democratic Party leader is equally long, including former Camden Mayor Melvin R. "Randy" Primas Jr. and former Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr.

He also helped residents of his native city by working in rodent control, in public works, and at the Parking Authority.

Though officially retired from all his posts, Mr. Hinson was still active behind the scenes in Camden's political world.

Mr. Hinson, 77, died of heart failure on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Cooper University Hospital.

"He helped out a lot, a lot, of people," said Dani Annise, a 50-year city employee.

During his time with the city committee, he attempted to make Camden a better place by putting young professionals in leadership roles.

In the mid-1970s, he met a young Norcross, just out of high school, who was eager to work on Democratic campaigns.

"He mentored me and many others," said Norcross, now a well-known party power broker and chairman of Cooper University Hospital. "He inspired younger people to get involved."

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Mr. Hinson reached out to Camden's young Democrats, who included Redd and Ed Williams, current director of planning and development.

"There was a lack of young folks involved," Williams said, adding that Mr. Hinson focused on "expanding the political base."

In 1987, Roberts was starting to give his concession speech in his first run for a seat in the General Assembly, when Camden City's votes came in and turned the results around, recalled Mr. Hinson's wife, Novella.

Roberts ended up serving 22 years in the Assembly, retiring last year. Mr. Hinson was able to campaign and elect many South Jersey politicians, just as he did with Roberts.

"He believed in inclusion," Cruz-Perez said. "It was about Camden City working together."

He was willing to help anyone who shared his passion for Camden, Redd said. "I learned from working with him . . . the importance of doing the right thing for Camden," she said.

Mr. Hinson was born and raised in Camden and attended Camden High School. When he turned 18, he joined the Navy and was involved in the Korean War.

After two years of military duty, Mr. Hinson worked several odd jobs in Camden until becoming an investigator for the Camden City Health Department in 1960. While working there, he met Novella Starks, and the couple married in 1968.

During the late 1960s, Mr. Hinson met former Camden Council President Elijah Perry and activist Charles "Poppy" Sharp, and was inspired by their influence in their communities, his wife said.

But Mr. Hinson had his own voice and quickly became an influential figure himself among Camden Democrats.

Mr. Hinson was project director of rodent and insect control for Camden City during the 1970s, before being promoted to director of public works in 1976.

He went back to rodent control in 1981 and was transferred to director of Camden County Rodent and Insect Control a year later. He remained in that job until 1991.

It was a dirty job, but "he was darned good at it," Annise said.

Mr. Hinson wanted city officials to put more resources toward the city's rat infestation problem, often considered a taboo, so he dropped a rat in the middle of City Hall one day, his wife recalled.

"He wanted to draw attention to it," she said.

Mr. Hinson also served as Camden school board president in the late 1970s.

He retired as executive director of Camden's Parking Authority in 1995, after several years on the job.

His leadership stood out and he inspired many young politicians, Redd said, but his legacy was "making sure we serve others."

In addition to his wife, Mr. Hinson is survived by sons Theodore Jr., Chad, and Peter, and daughters Melanie Green-Hynson, Rejaayah Cumberbatch, and Jill Adams; 10 grandchildren; three sisters and a brother. He is also survived by his first wife, Marlene Francis.

A viewing will be Monday, Oct. 25. The time and place have not been set. A funeral will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, at Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 1198 Penn St., Camden.

Interment will be at Camden County Veterans Cemetery, Camden.

Donations of money or new unwrapped toys in his name may be made to Teddy's Toys for Tots, Cooper's Ferry Development Association, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Dr., Suite 501, Camden, N.J. 08103.