Ted C. Moreno

Born in Robstown, Texas, to Francisco and Guadalupe Moreno, Ted Moreno grew up in south Texas. He graduated from Corpus Christi College Academy where he excelled scholastically. He met his future wife, Fran Girlando during a visit in 1949 to Florida. Ted and Fran were married in 1952 in Mississippi. They made their home in Port Arthur, Texas where they were blessed with a lovely daughter, Kathy.

Ted received a degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A & M University. He joined the Merchant Marine Service. During World War II, the Merchant Marine Service became part of the United States Navy. Ted was a Radio Officer aboard one of the Liberty Ships that transported fuel from the United States to Europe. The Liberty Ships had a very high casualty rate due to the enemy submarine groups that attacked and sunk many ships.

After the war, Ted became a Radio Officer in the Texaco Marine Department. He sailed aboard Texaco tankers as the ship’s Radio Officer. Aboard the Texaco tankers he sailed to Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and both U.S. coasts. Ted spoke many languages which he used in his travels including Spanish, Italian, French, German and Portuguese as well as a bit of Russian and Dutch. He retired in 1985.

Ted was a Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus in Port Arthur, TX. He was very active in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. He was a member of the Italian-American Culture Club.

He loved music, particularly Opera, and he was a member of the St. Joseph’s choir, nicknamed “The Croakers.” He loved to dance and in addition to ballroom, he performed in the Boot Scooter Line Dancing Club. The Club performed throughout the Golden Triangle area. His writing skills earned him offers to write articles from Popular Mechanics and Scientific American magazines. He loved to write poetry for his friends and family.

In August, 2008, Ted moved to Wenham, MA to live with his daughter Kathy and her husband Joe Palermino. He enjoyed his time with his family in their lovely home.

He was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis which he fought for years, although it slowed him down only a little. He passed peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Tuesday, September 23, 2014.

He is survived by his daughter, Kathy Palermino and her husband Joe Palermino of Wenham, MA, his nieces and nephews Joe Girlando, Jr. and his wife Patty of Bremerton, WA; Sarah Norris (late husband, Dave) of Birdsboro, PA; Diane Holten Brodka of Maryland; Jackie Marzec and her husband Gregg of Maryland. Diane Moreno Moseley and her husband Steve of Seattle, WA; Frank Edward Moreno and his wife Sherrie of Alexandria, VA; Mary Alice Moreno Lester and her husband Ed of Houston, TX; Ronnie Moreno Gunderson-Frantz (late husband Brian) of Springfield, VA; Deborah Moreno Klimes and her husband Kerry of Phoenix, AZ; Celina Moreno Manning of Oak Lawn, IL; Ted Carlos Moreno of North Hollywood, CA; and various grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Fran Moreno, his brother, Celso Moreno, and his parents Francisco and Guadalupe Moreno.