Tributes

DAVID ALLAN TEDESCO June 15, 1956 - October 3, 2014 David Allan Tedesco was born at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio on June 15, 1956. He passed at home in San Antonio with his family, taken in only a few months by terminal brain cancer at age 58. David's life was rich with family, friends, adventures, conquests, curiosity, talents, and life in general. He was truly a "Renaissance Man." David was a Lead Planner in Wealth Management at USAA in San Antonio. He was respected by his peers as an expert in Estate Planning and Life Insurance. He was known as a great mentor and teacher in all of his life's skills. David was the son of the late Barbara Tedesco and Army Lt. Col. William J. Tedesco, who is on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's wall of honor. David grew up in a military family and lived in Germany, North Carolina, Springfield, VA and St. Petersburg, FL when his father retired. He attended Boca Ciega HS in St. Petersburg, FL and Brevard College in NC, receiving an Associates Degree in Music Composition. He finished his Bachelor of Music Degree at the University of North Texas in Music Theory and Jazz Studies. David never stopped being a student of life and intellectual challenges. As a young man, he built radio-controlled planes, earned a private pilot's license, and became an amateur astronomer. During the 80's, he took up photography and made his living as a notable professional ad photographer in Dallas. In 1984, he visited Italy for the first time, and had the thrill of finding the birthplace of his grandfather in the region of Abruzzo, and was able to tell him in person at age 94, after not seeing his birthplace for over 70 years. David studied and became fluent in Italian, returning numerous times in his life, making friends across Italy. Being a WWI history buff, in 2012, David personally traced the footsteps of his Grandfather's Yankee Division Unit in France. His grandfather, Alexander Tedesco, earned his American citizenship as General John J. Pershing's personal motorcycle messenger. David researched the units' movements in 1918 and found rare archival film of the unit in Mussy-sur-Seine, France where they were briefly stationed. This WWI history had been lost to the city, and David's rediscovery, documentation and film evidence caused the city to give David the Mussy-sur-Seine Medal of Honor, given only about twice a century, for his gift of history, and for his Grandfather's bravery to help save France. In 1989, David once again was intrigued by new challenges and started his financial career as a representative with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance. With a financial career spanning 25 years, David earned an MBA from the University of Texas, SA, became a Board Certified Financial Planner CFP, was a LUTCF, and held Series 7, 6, 63 & 65 financial licenses. With his experience and knowledge, he handled USAA's highest-level members. Above all, he loved his music most. He met the love of his life, Sarah, in music school at UNT, and they shared that love of music for 35 years. He was an excellent jazz pianist and played and arranged for big bands for several years. David is survived by his wife of 33 years, Sarah Nelson Tedesco, his children William, Marcus and Olivia Tedesco, his sisters, Debra Tedesco of Dunedin, FL, and Diane Tedesco of St. Petersburg, FL, and nieces and nephews in TX and IL. He also has a very special boy, Nicholas Salce, in Tocco da Casauria, Italy, whose parents, Angelo and Maria, gave David the privilege of becoming a "real" Italian Godfather. David was charmed and loved by all who met him. Many say he was the smartest guy they ever met. He loved to cook, studied wines, loved great conversations and evenings of impromptu music. He truly lived, "La Dolce Vita." SERVICES A musical concert and loving tributes memorial will be held, Saturday, November 1, at 3:00 pm at La Cantera Hill Country Resort Ballroom, 16641 La Cantera Parkway in San Antonio. In lieu of flowers or other donations, we are trying hard to raise $25, 000 to establish the "David A. Tedesco Memorial" perpetual endowment for the School of Music at UNT for Jazz Piano. Donations can be made out to: UNT Foundation. In memo: Tedesco Memorial/School of Music. Send to: Dr. Alan Klaas, UNT College of Music, 1155 Union Cr. #311367, Denton, TX 76203.