Richard Teed

Richard M. "Rik" Teed was born 10 October 1931 to Alton L. Teed and Henrietta E. (Sampson) Teed at Union, New York. The eldest of nine Children: Beverly J. Shaffer; Shirley A. Sydow; Austin H. Teed; Lucille E. Roberts; Kenneth D. Teed; Harold G. Teed; Gail I. Smith and Terry C. Mead.
Richard attended Central Vocational and North High Schools in Binghamton, New York. In November 1948 he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and went through 'Boot Camp' at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After his basic training he attended Naval Lithographers School in Memphis (Millington), TN, in May of 1949 he assisted in transferring the school to Arlington, VA and continued his education in the Lithographic trades.
In mid September of 49 he was detached on leave to report for a tour of duty at the Print Shop of the Submarine Base in New London, CT. Here advanced to Lithographer Third Class. In October 1951 he reported aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVB 42), where he re-enlisted for an additional six years deciding to make the Navy a career.
Upon returning from re-enlistment leave he had orders to report to assist in setting up the new printing facilities for Headquarters Support Activities in Naples, Italy. This command provided support NATO and Commander In Chief Southern Europe. In 1953 he reported aboard the UUS Macon (CA 132), a heavy cruiser serving as the Flagship for Rear Admiral (31 knot) Arleigh Burke, Commander Cruiser Division Six. In July 1955 he departed for duty with Commander Tenth Naval District at San Juan, PR. During this tour he met the love of his life "Alicia Gonzalez del Toro". They were married on 20 October 1956.
In March 1957, Alicia announced that she was pregnant, and on Friday the thirteenth of December she delivered our first son, Richard Matthew Teed, Jr. In January 1958 Rik was transferred to the USS Everglades, a destroyer tender at Norfolk, VA. This was a temporary assignment as He had orders for a two year tour of duty at the Printing Facility of the Commander-in-Chief Atlantic, at Norfolk. June 1960 saw Rik transferring to Camp Perry, Ohio, spending three months with the National Rifle and Pistol Matches. During this period he attended the Small Arms Marksmanship Instructors School of the U. S. Army and was certified as a qualified instructor. Upon the closing of the matches, Rik transferred to the Navy Publications and Printing Service Branch Office at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In October 1960 his wife and two sons joined him; they remained in GTMO for four years. In February 1961, Alicia announced that she was pregnant with their third son, Thomas Norman, born on 28 November. Then in July 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Alicia and the three boys were evacuated and ended up staying with Alicia's parents in Santurce, P.R. In December of 62 they returned to GTMO. In May 1963 Rik was promoted to Chief Lithographer, reliving Senior Chief Ray Wills as Petty Officer-in-Charge. In June 1964 Rik transferred to the Atlantic Intelligence Center at Norfolk, Va.
During this tour of duty, Rik was the Chief-in-Charge of the production center. He also spent several months on temporary additional duty as Chief-in-Charge of the CINCLANT letterpress section of their printing plant. In June of 1966 he was transferred to the USS Pocono LCC-16, an Amphibious Communications & Command ship; the flagship of the Commander Amphibious Force Atlantic. He served as the Chief-in-Charge of the print and drafting shops. On May tenth 1968 Rik retired from active duty following a twenty year Navy career.
In July the family moved to Puerto Rico, where Rik was employed by the William Press as printing foreman. On August 12th, Alicia presented him with their fifth son Larry Andres. In September 1968, Alicia's father passed away. When their house was completed in November they moved to Cupey Alto along with Alicia's mother. In March 1969 he was asked to return to government service at the NPPSO, San Juan as foreman, which he readily accepted. In November he was sent on temporary assignment at NPPSBO, GTMO, due to the illness of their foreman. Later when the Director of NPPSBO, GTMO transferred to another facility, Rik was asked by his boss to apply for the director's position. After discussion with the family (wife) he applied and was accepted the promotion to Director NPPSBO, GTMO in March 1970. He was joined at GTMO by his family in July 1970 when the boys were out of school.
In July 1973 Rik's boss; Howard L. Deleon retired as director of NPPSO, Roosevelt Roads and publications & printing for the Navy in the Caribbean. Rik was contacted by the director of Navy Publications & Printing Services, asking him to apply for the Directors position at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Rik was selected and in August 1973 the family returned to Puerto Rico settling in Fajardo, P.R. In 1978 with their eldest son Ric in college at Daytona Beach, FL and their second son Chuck living in the states, Rik accepted a position at NPPSO, Pensacola, FL as Senior Printing & Procurement Specialist, serving the Chief of Naval Education & Training. In February 1987, Rik retired from civil service after thirty nine years of combined Navy and civil service.
Rik was pre-deceased by both his parents and in-laws; his eldest son Richard M. 'Ric', Jr.; second son Charles S. 'Poco Carlos. Two brother in laws- Jerry Roberts & Eugene Sydow. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Alicia Maria Gonzalez de Teed, sons: Thomas Norman (Sindy), Bruce Dennis (Cyndi) and Larry Andres. Six grandchildren: Aura Lei Libunao (Arman), Danniel Shultz, Shannon Altagracia Teed, Jacob Alexander Teed, Kyle Spencer Teed and Amanda Livia Teed. His siblings: Beverly Shafer (Al), Shirley Sydow, Austin Teed (Fai Mai), Lucille Roberts, Kenneth Teed (Marge), Harold Teed (Becky), Gail Smith (Larry) and Terry Mead (Mona). Several nieces and nephews.