Joseph Nicholas Teta, of Woburn, passed away suddenly, at his home on Sunday, January 7th. He was 74. Now at peace, he joins his father Nicholas and his mother Lillian Teta, along with his son Joel Teta.
Joseph was born on April 12, 1943. He graduated from Medford Regional Vocational Technical High School, and served in the Air Force for four years, stationed at what was then the Loring Air Force Base in northern Maine. He received an honorable discharge and then joined the business world. He was essential to the beginning of Polaris Enterprises, a sales company established in Medford Square in the late 1960s. He entered as a partner and then became president.
He loved riding his Honda Goldwing motorcycle. Joseph joined the Medford Specials and then became a member of the Blue Knights, an international police motorcycle organization, for which he served as Parade Captain for many years. He reveled in the countless rides he took with his fellow Blue Knights, and especially those with his brother Nicholas Teta and cousin Peter Bucci. Joseph also was a member of the International Police Association, acting as a Boston area liaison for visitors from various law enforcement agencies who were visiting from abroad. He served for a time as a volunteer in the Essex County Sheriff’s Department and, more recently, as a Patriot Guard Rider.
The pride of his life were his three girls—his daughter Lori Allen, and his granddaughters Amanda and Abbigail Allen. He also adored the three Golden Retrievers he rescued, one at a time, over the years.
Joseph was the devoted father of Lori Allen of Madbury, New Hampshire and the late Joel Anthony Teta, who passed away in 2016. He was the loving grandfather of Amanda and Abbigail Allen, both of Somersworth, New Hampshire and Jeremy Teta of Owasso, Oklahoma. Joseph was the dear brother of Nicholas Joseph Teta and his wife Grace of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and a cherished uncle of Douglas Teta of Florida, Susan Fusaro of Rhode Island, and Amy Korytkowski of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He is also survived by his former wives, Gail Teta of Florida and Ellen Longsworth of Haverhill.
A funeral service will be celebrated in the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main Street, Medford, on Saturday, January 13th at 10AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 4 through 8 PM. Services will conclude with interment and military honors at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joseph's name may be sent to: Blue Knights
COPSRUN, P.O. Box 732, Otisville, N.Y. 10963 In Memory of Joseph N. Teta, Mass V.