Thomas G. Tedesco

Tedesco. He grew up in Demarest and Rockleigh, NJ. Tom had many fond memories of

spending his summer vacations with his big brother, Tim, and his large extended family in

Peckville and Scranton, PA.

Tom was a graduate of Northern Valley High School in Old Tappan and Moravian College in

Allentown, PA, where he majored in Art. Tom began his career as an Art Teacher in the Archie F.

Hay Village School in Rockleigh, NJ, but found his true passion was working with students with

learning differences. He spent most of his career teaching English and Special Education at

John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson, NJ until he retired in 2013.For most of his life, Tom

worked a second job and loved to share stories about his time bartending at Fricke’s Old Hook

Inn in Emerson, where he met some of his closest friends.

Tom met his wife, Jenny, while living the good life as a confirmed bachelor playing Shuffleboard

with his dear friend, “Uncle” Mike Watson, at the Hudson House in Long Beach Island. His life

was never the same and before he knew it, they had gotten married and started a family. Tom’s

two sons, Tommy and Johnny, became his pride and joy and nothing gave him more pleasure

than raising them to be the amazing men they are today. Tom spent his last moments watching

the football playoffs with the two of them by his side (even though he was a lifelong Cowboys

fan and they were Giants fans). He always encouraged them to follow their own interests and

dreams.

Tom was somewhat of a “Renaissance Man.” He had the heart of an artist and saw beauty in

unexpected places. He loved to read and learn about new things, but he loved working with his

hands just as much. He could figure out how to fix anything and he loved his assortment of tools

and gadgets. Tom was obsessed with cars and could rattle off details about different models,

especially muscle cars from the 60’s. He loved strumming a guitar and listening to all different

types of music. Tom enjoyed his trips to Shop Rite to make sure his home was stocked with

everyone’s favorite snacks and he cooked dinner for his family every night. Tom was even

known to break out a sewing machine from time to time, which came in handy during Covid,

when he quickly figured out how to sew homemade face masks for his family.

Tom will always be remembered as someone who inspired others by overcoming tremendous.

challenges while never losing his passion for life. He was a gentle soul, who taught his boys that

all people deserved empathy and a second chance. He was known as “St. Francis” to many

because of his love of animals and he took comfort in believing he would be reunited with his

many beloved pets in Heaven.

Tom is survived by his wife, Jenny (Sparno), his sons, Thomas and John, his sisters-in-law,

Janet Tedesco, Beatrice Garrison, and Leanore Sparno, his nephews Roger Tedesco (Martha)

and Jack Garrison, his nieces, Rebecca Van Ry (Daryl), Christina Tedesco, and Nora Garrison,

his grand-nieces, Ashlyn and Kiersten Van Ry and Abigail and Lillian Tedesco, his beloved

dogs, Belle and Bentley, his cat, George, and his “grand kittens” Poco and Marcy. Tom is

predeceased by his parents, and his older brother Timothy Tedesco. Tom came from a large,

loving family and had wonderful memories of his aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. He

will be missed and his legacy will live on in all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to your favorite charity.