Mario Tedesco

TEDESCO
Mario J. (Ted) Tedesco, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on Friday, September 28, 2012, at the age of 85. Having emigrated from Italy as a naturalized citizen at the age of three, Mario had a great love, patriotism and appreciation for the United States, a country that lovingly accepted his family into its fold. Mario eagerly exited high school to enter a special military program for the U.S. Air Corps at Norwich University. During his military career, he completed tours in the Army-Air Corps, U.S. Navy and his final 16 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force until his retirement, having served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and earning the specially created CWO-3 rank because of his position with the USAF Security Service as the Top Secret Control Officer for cryptographic material for Headquarters First Air Force - keeping all military secrets even until his passing. He was also proud of his second career and retirement from the U.S. Postal Service. A quiet soul, Mario was a role model of honesty, charity and hard work to his friends and family. He could talk eagerly for hours about airplane history, minted coins, comic book series, and every one of his grandchildren. He was a master of every crossword puzzle, and had a very sharp mind until the end. Mario was predeceased by his parents, Nicholas and Clotilde, and his brothers, Anthony and Thomas. Mario left behind his wife of 62 years, Mary; sister of the heart, Nancy Pettiglio; his children and their spouses, Mark and Debby Tedesco, Venisa and John Dark, Regina Martinez, and Michael and Cherie Tedesco; his daughters of the heart, Judy Leverette and Nora Gonzales; his grandchildren, Christopher, Tiffany, Tonya, Amber, Mario (II), Roman, Jared, Trisha, Tamara and Sydney; and great-grandchildren, Eric, Jerica and Lily. After a private time for immediate family, visitation for friends and neighbors will begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m., on Monday, October 8, 2012, at Castle Ridge Mortuary and Funeral Home, 8008 Military Drive West. The funeral service will begin at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, 4222 SW Loop 410, San Antonio, followed by 11:45 a.m. Interment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with Full Military Honors.