Thomas A Tedesco

Thomas A. Tedesco (Tom to his family, Ted to his friends) died September 6, 2024 at home, with his wife Karen by his side.  Born December 5, 1935 in York, Pa to Henrietta (Gross) and Thomas Tedesco, he was the fifth of six children and only son.  He had five wonderful, talented sisters. 

     He graduated from William Penn High School in 1954.  He then joined the army, serving 2 years in Germany as a Medic.  Returning home he earned a degree from York Junior College, 1958, and a BS from Franklin and Marshall College, 1960.  He continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania while working in medical research for Dr Lewis Barness in the Dept of Pediatrics, completing his PH.D. in 1970.  That same year he met his future wife Karen (Miller), when he interviewed and hired her for a position in his lab.  They married in 1978 and had a loving and happy life together for 46 years.  

     Recruited by Dr. Barness to join the faculty of the newly established Univ. of South Florida (USF) College of Medicine, he was a member of the Charter Faculty (1974).  There he established the Pediatric Labs, providing genetic testing for chromosomal and metabolic diseases.  He served on the Florida Newborn Advisory Council for many years.  In 1985 he was recruited by Dr Barry Verkauf  to set up the laboratory for the first IVF program in Tampa at what was then Humana Women's Hospital.  The program was successful from the beginning and by 1989, 22 babies conceived in that lab were born.  He continued to maintain his Laboratory Director position at USF while being a consultant to the IVF program for several years.  He retired from USF in 1998 after almost 25 years.

      He fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a private pilot shortly after moving to Florida.  After retiring he enjoyed traveling with Karen, visiting the National Parks, friends and especially his sisters and family.  He loved bass fishing, woodworking, electronics, trips to Lido Beach, and working on his treasured 1989 Jeep Comanche truck.  He could build anything, fix anything, and not only purchased one of the first available personal computers in 1981, he also learned to program them. He maintained his love of jazz all his life.  He grew up in a home filled with music.  His father, from Cortale, Italy was a professional band director and music teacher.  One of Tom's earliest memories is learning to play "O sole mio" on the clarinet propped up on a stool.  He played alto sax and piano with a group of friends in small clubs around the Philadelphia area during his college years. 

     He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 of his sisters, Marguerite Wintermeyer, Pauline Kindig and Mary Carpenter (all of York, Pa). He is survived by his wife Karen, of Land O Lakes, and two sisters, Theresa Bryan, Puryear, TN (who celebrated her 100th birthday last December), and Sylvia (Sib) Barley, Red Lion, Pa. and many nieces and nephews.   He led a long and productive life.  Despite the many health challenges he endured for the last 11 years, he never gave up.  He was proud of his Italian heritage, military service and his family.  He was much loved and will be deeply missed.  Interment will be at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell Fl.