Theodore W. Dusso 3-23-25 to 1-8-23

Remembering Uncle Buddy: Ted (Buddy) Dusso passed away at nearly 98 years young. Still living on his own in Santa Clarita, CA, Buddy spent much of his time listening to his vast collection of classical music and reading his mysteries and detective novels. He learned to manage all home electronics and used the computer frequently, always seeming to be aware of the current news. A man of routine, he exercised daily. Until the day Buddy passed away, he understood everything and never lost his intellectual curiosity. His family looked to him for his perspective on current events and appreciated his political savvy. The morning he passed, his niece, Cindy, came to take him shopping and there he was, sitting with his hand around his morning mug, expecting her arrival, looking like he dozed off. 

This wonderful, unassuming, soft-spoken, shy man was raised in the small town of La Crosse, Wisconsin and graduated from Logan High School.  He joined the army and fought in WWII and was awarded the Bronze Medal for bravery in action. He had fought in the famous Battle of the Bulge and was the only survivor of his unit in this brutal assault. When he returned to the US, he took advantage of the GI Bill and went to Marquette University and became an accountant.

Ted lived in Chicago, Minnesota and California. He worked in administration for the State of MN before retiring. At age 88, Buddy returned to CA. He had been diagnosed with a large benign brain tumor a few weeks earlier. The USC surgeon suggested waiting until the symptoms increased and then to check into a care facility. Not an option for Buddy. He insisted on having the meningioma removed. The surgical team was astonished when they snipped the source feeding the tumor - “It immediately separated and practically slipped to the floor.”

Buddy remained single his whole life, but enjoyed some special connections with friends, most notably a woman who was aptly called Angel. They were very close partners in the 70’s and 80’s, sharing her home in Winona, Minnesota for several years before her untimely passing. In lieu of traditional burial or cremation, Buddy chose to contribute his body to the study of biological science at UCLA. These medical students will not only benefit from his generosity but find a brain that might look decades younger.

Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Betty Dusso and sisters Fern Marie Blell and Marjorie Thygesen; his nieces, Dana Hauser and Carol (Thygesen) Taylor.

Ted is survived by his sister, Betty Riley in La Crosse, WI and his nieces, Dianne Blell-Walker of New York, Sherry (Tom) Zimmerman of Chicago, Kathy Adams (The late Bill Stein) of Sacramento, Cindy (Anthony) Beeby, Valencia, CA, and nephew Bendix Thygesen of Long Beach, CA . A special farewell ceremony was held on the beach in Ventura, CA with a military salute and honor guard, taps and flag presentation. Close family and friends shared endearing stories about Uncle Buddy.

Thank you for your contributions, Buddy - to family, to friends and your country. We miss you greatly. (tomnsherry@rcn.com)

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/theodore-dusso/obituary/

Copy