Louis Tedone M.D.

1923 - 2021

Louis Tedone, MD
July 21, 1923 - January 10, 2021
San Luis Obispo, California - Louis Matthew Tedone, M.D. was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1923. He was the proud middle son of immigrants from Bari, Italy. His parents owned an Italian grocery store in Brooklyn where Lou learned the value of hard work.
He graduated from Brooklyn's Boys High School in 1941 as president of his senior class. In 2017 he was honored as Man of the Year by the Boys High Alumni Association.
He attended Fordham University. After only two years at Fordham, Lou was admitted to New York Medical College because the Navy needed doctors for World War II. The Navy paid all but $1000 of Lou's medical school training.
He graduated Medical college in 1947 at age 24, interned at St. Catherine Hospital for two years, and did his pediatric residency at St. Catherine's and Lutheran Hospital until 1951, both in Brooklyn.
In February 1949 he married our mother, Grace DePalo, another child of Italian immigrants. A honeymoon baby, Grace Cecelia (named after Lou's mother) was born in November. A year later came Bob.
Because of the Korean War, this time, it was the Army that needed doctors. Lou enlisted as an officer so he wouldn't be drafted as a private. He became the camp pediatrician at Camp Roberts from 1951 to 1953. He moved his family from Brooklyn to Atascadero. Bruce came along in 1953.
Lou realized that practicing pediatrics in San Luis Obispo (where it didn't snow and he could scoot around town quickly for house calls) was preferable to Brooklyn. Edison French hired him in 1953 to become the first pediatrician in San Luis County. Our family (then) of five moved to San Luis that year into the same house that Lou lived in the rest of his life. Six more children came along and builders kept adding bedrooms.
Lou worked for the French Clinic from 1953 to 1977, in solo practice until 1986, then with the Ekegren, Tedford, and Patterson Group for two more years. Upon his complete retirement he made mozzarella for his daughter's Shell Beach store, DePalo and Sons.
Besides seeing more than 30,000 children, Lou was an active community volunteer. His involvement included: founding committee member of the Mental Health Clinic and on the advisory board there for ten years, president for seven; member of the Mission High School and Old Mission Elementary school boards. He taught sex education at Mission for grades 5 - 9 (much to the embarrassment of his children); volunteer medical consultant at Chris Jespersen School Cerebral Palsy Clinic; founding member of Youth Football League and on its board; first torch carrier when the 2002 Olympic flame came to San Luis; awarded "Crown of Good Name" by Congregation Beth David in 1996; received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Luis Obispo Community Health Foundation. In addition, the French Hospital Medical Center Foundation established the Dr. Louis M. Tedone Humanitarian Award to be given annually to a deserving community member. Lou, of course, was the first recipient.
While Lou was busy with his practice and volunteerism, his beloved Grace held down the fort at home. We can still hear her say, "Louis Matthew!" when he would get out of line. Mom passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1994. Lou would water her favorite tree while having long talks with her after her death. He wore his wedding ring for the rest of his life.
He is predeceased by his parents Grace and Matteo, his brothers Frank and Nat, daughter Elissa, and wife Grace. He is survived by his children Gracie (Richard Manderscheid), Bob (Sheila), Bruce (Lee), Marisa (Kelly Teel), Matthew (Marianne), Andrea (Scott Williams), Joe (Kathy), Martin (Tracy), and Teresa (Tom Goossen); also twenty-two grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Dr. Stephen Hilty for his extraordinary care.
Lou wanted to end this obituary with this: "At the time of our passing if we measure success by the number of friends we leave, by the love of our family members, and the respect of our colleagues and community then I feel I have been successful."
Due to COVID no services are planned at this time.
In memory of Lou Tedone donations may be be made to Grace and Lou Tedone Memorial Scholarship Fund, ? Mission School Memorial Foundation, PO Box 177, S.L.O. 93406 or Jack's Helping Hand, PO Box 14718, S.L.O 93406.