Uncle Teddy had a great influence on us kids and not many people knew

Like how we now have a love for Neil Diamond songs like "Song Sung Blue"

He was a great comedian pretending to trip over his own two feet

Then as a grown man could jump and fit into a child car seat

He'd make us all laugh when he flexed his pecks one by one

He did a very funny munchkin voice and he was always so much fun

Pretending to hit his head as he was opening up a door

We laughed because we didn't know he stopped it with his foot on the floor

We would of never of known about the ocean if it weren't for this man

Point Pleasant, the boardwalk and people lying on the beach for a tan

It was him who convinced our father to let us stay at the beach all day

What a treat for us 6 girls as we watched the entire fireworks display

With a beautiful voice like his, he was truly the family's musical star

We still remember those summer nights as children at Martell's Sea Breeze & Bar

To see him singing on a stage with a guitar in his hand

That was our Uncle Teddy leading the "Teddy and the Gondoliers" Band

Soccer and Bocce were his games and as a gardener he had a green thumb

At his house we'd taste creme de mint, vermouth and coke and rum

A Bocce court, a garden and grapes on the vine

He would want us to celebrate his life with Music, Laughter and homemade Wine

His love for God, his family and his friends you could cut with a knife

Especially his love for Aunt Michele, as he lovingly called her "My Wife"

With this Italian accent he would say his wife's name was "MeShell"

And when we spoke to his brothers  he always opened the sentence with "Fratel"

These things and more we are so grateful for our Uncle Teddy

And we will trust in the Lord as he says he is now ready

Words were his melody and a love story he could surely sing

To Heaven all these gifts he will now bring

Memories, Peace and a Heavenly Grand Reunion are the gifts of this poem

As we know the 4 Santaguida brothers are together again and now finally home

And in remembering God's promise to make all things new, God hands Uncle Teddy a few new guitar picks

Because in Heaven there's a new band in town that goes by the name of "Teddy and the Mechanics"

Thank You Uncle Teddy, You Will Always Be In Our Hearts

We Rejoice, for we know we will see you again

The Fulvio and Rena Santaguida Daughters

(Carmela, Nancy, Cathy, Maria, Susie and Connie)