Read Teodoro "Ted" de Guzman Dizon's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Teodoro "Ted" de Guzman Dizon

Miami, FL, USA

1936 - September 4, 2020

1936 - Sep 4, 2020

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My father, Teodoro G. Dizon, passed away in his sleep from natural causes at 84 years old on September 4, 2020. My dad was the most selfless, compassionate and caring man that I have ever met in my life. He was my rock and my biggest fan. He was the type of father that would bring me to every piano class, tennis/ceramics class, swimming lesson, (insert whatever extracurricular activity there was available) and afterwards would still treat me to ice cream at Carvel. When I wanted to have a little clubhouse (for who knows what reason), he built it from scratch in our backyard; complete with little chairs and tables for my club members that didn’t exist. He wanted me to learn how to camp, so we’d build a tent in our backyard and sleep there with mosquito nets equipped. He wouldn’t just drop me off at school before work – he would walk me to my class, holding my hand, to make sure I got there safely. He would go to every PTA meeting and would accompany me after school and watch batman and power rangers. He would read to me before bedtime and would listen patiently and enthusiastically at my sophomoric stories about what I thought was important. When he found out that I was crying because I wasn’t able to go to a beach get together, he bought beach pails and brought me to the beach to help me build sandcastles, just me and him. He would randomly buy me readers digest books about wildlife, planets, medicine and art. I did not understand why, but now I know it was his way of encouraging me to learn what I’d be passionate about. “Kimmy, read the newspaper and pray every day,” he’d always say.

He would insist on going to my high school volleyball games, even though I was shy for him to see me play because I did not want him to see me fail and when I would get out of line, he’d chase me around the house with a fly-swatter for a disciplinary smack. Being a navy man, he respected military time and he never fancied being tardy. He would always be disappointed whenever I and my mother would be late; because to him, “early is on time and on time is late.” He always gave to charity and would lend a helping hand or ear to those who needed it, willingly and unconditionally. He would chaperone every time my girlfriends and I would go to the mall and would even walk behind us so as to give us our space and not embarrass our pre-teen egos. I remember I’d get so mad in my teenage years because he would tell others of my accomplishments and I never really thought I was that great. I did not want people to have this high expectation of me and I’d fall short on what my father said of me.. But I am thankful now because he gave me hope in myself when I didn’t think I had it in me.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2007 and it was right before I started nursing school where that classical resting tremor started on his left hand. “Kim, what is happening to me?” he’d ask as he’d look at his hand. He did not understand its meaning or how it will affect his life for the rest of his life and nor did I. However, there was a moment where he had an inkling that he may have the same illness his own mother passed away from. One afternoon after picking me up from school, we were still sitting in the car and he turned to me with tears in his eyes and said something along the lines of, “Kimmy, I’m sorry. You may not understand it now, but I’m sorry – it is going to be hard.” As a teen in denial, I didn’t want to think about it & brushed it off. He knew keeping the mind busy helped, so he always had a crossword puzzle handy in his jacket pocket & always had the game show network tv channel on. He fought hard to live as long as he could and I always admired his perseverance wondering how he still had a smile on his face.

Dad, I could go on and on about all the good you’ve done for me and this world, but I believe the best way to commemorate your life would be to strive to live life as you did: with love, humor & compassion. .. And by the way, I didn’t want to admit it, but you were right when you said, “you will miss me calling, one day”. Rest in peace, tay. I will always be your daddy’s girl.

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