Victor A. Tetreault

Tetreault, Victor A.
Nov. 12, 2007

Victor A. Tetreault of Clearwater passed away suddenly on Nov. 12, 2007, at the age of 74. He was born and raised in Lowell, Mass., the only son of the town barber. He was an excellent student and multi-sport star in high school and his skills as an offensive lineman earned him a scholarship to Brandeis University, where he lettered for four years and achieved All Conference honors. Upon graduation in 1955, Vic enlisted in the Navy, where he spent seven years as a navigation officer aboard several Navy vessels, most notably the destroyer USS Pillsbury. During this time, he also met and married his one true love, Marilyn Lee (Nee) Biggar.
Upon discharge from the Navy, Vic found himself with a wife and two small children to support while living in Los Angeles. He was forced to take a rather menial job as a cook at a small hamburger stand. However, God was smiling on him that day because his supervisor was a man named Ray Kroc and the hamburger stand was one of the first McDonald's in the country. Vic quickly worked his way up in the McDonald's corporation and became Director of National Marketing for the company before taking the opportunity to become a franchisee himself - eventually owning and operating a large chain of successful restaurants, which he later sold. In 1977, Burger King Corporation lured him to Clearwater, where he founded Scovic Corporation, which Vic and his wife, Lee, built into one of the largest privately held Burger King owner-operator chains in West Florida.
Vic sold this in the late 1980s to try retirement, but his entrepreneurial spirit was still active. His next venture was Pinch A Penny Pool and Patio retail stores. He built a successful independent chain and in an act of characteristic generosity, he allow his employed managers to assume control and ownership on extremely favorable terms. Despite all of his success, he remained humble and was quick to credit the good people who surrounded him. He was also very open and honest about his flaws, such as they were, and in the last 16 years of his life, he became one of Bill W's greatest friends while guiding dozens of people taking their own steps to success.
In fact, besides his family, his greatest joy came from helping and mentoring others to achieve the kind of business success and spiritual peace with which he was so blessed. Honesty, hard work, dependability and honor were the hallmarks of his life. He was a man among men and he leaves us with memories of a lifetime of laughter and love.
Victor is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Lee Tetreault, his two sons, Dr. Scott Tetreault of Sarasota and Victor J. Tetreault, Esq. of Savannah, Ga., their wives, Karen Tetreault and Jet Tetreault; and especially his little grandson, Ethan Tetreault (child of Scott and Karen).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Humane Society of Manatee County.
Arrangements entrusted to the Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater.