Teddy Maio

I would like to dedicate this post to Teddy Maio. Teddy was a close friend of my parents. He was a big guy with a big heart. I have five memories of Teddy that stand out;

1) He was a policeman in our town, I called the police on an unruly boyfriend in high school and who shows up, Teddy!! Always the protector.

2) We were in the Bahamas on vacation with his family and some of the hotel employees were getting fresh in the elevator and who took them to task, Teddy!! Protecting me again.

3) Teddy loved Atlantic City, my father did as well, we were at the craps table and my father was letting me roll the dice for him (as a young girl my daddy taught me how to play this game) and there was Teddy cheering me on.

4) When my dad was in the hospital, right before he died, Teddy and his wife were there to lend their support. They also came to our house the night he died to offer comfort, good people.

5) He planted the trees that line the right side of my property (he was also a landscaper). He told me he personally went and picked out the trees, he wanted me to have good ones. My cousin and I dedicated two of those trees to our family members who passed away, her husband and my father.

The three additional trees will now stand as a memorial to Teddy, one for his big heart, one for his dedication to my family and one for being the protector of our town.