RICHARD TEDESCO

It is a great honor to share with you my memories of a man whom I have worked side by side with for the past 5 years.   I have been there for the highs and the lows.   We shared our faith; Rich's Bible is more worn than the bibles of most pastors.   If I needed a scripture, he would find it.   He was a best friend, always willing to help, to be there.   I can remember him once helping an acquaintance who needed some money for a part to repair his car.   Rich gave him his last $40.   I asked him "how could you do this?   you don't have money for food for you and your family today".   His reply was "he needed it more than me".   I always told him he had a hole in his pocket.   He would always give it all away.

Our business is helping people; we are recruiters and match makers.   Great opportunities for networking.   Rich would always give his time to help the secretary or the CEO whether it directly related to his business or not.   He never asked for anything in return.

As his employer, we had our differences.   I had to recognize that Rich was, and I am certain still is, a 'free spirit' and an artist, who I believe, truly struggled to conform to worldly discipline.   He was not a conformist.   Some might say it was stubbornness, but I say that was just Rich.

I can remember when I first interviewed Rich.   I was sharing my views on proper office attire.   I told him that business casual was acceptable.   At the time he was wearing a sharp suit.   I thought he understood.   On his first day of work he showed up in jeans.   "Business causal?", He said, "I only own suits and jeans".   That was Rich.

Rich had an amazing thirst for knowledge.   He was always reading.   He is the father of our website.   Rich was one the first recruiters to utilize the computer to run his business.   He was about 10 years ahead of his time.

Rich once mentioned that heaven on earth for him was the ocean.   The only two things he loved more were God and his family.   He has always adored Dee and the children.   I could speak for hours on the kid's stories alone.   He often said if he could somehow make enough money to support his family from the ocean, life would be perfect.   Of course he would still sneak in an occasional Sunday baseball game.   That was his 4th love!

On behalf of The Sterling Group team: Jeff, Lori, Hal, Gerry, Lisa, and Sandy, I want to dedicate our website including this special page to Rich and his family.   Rich will forever be a permanent fixture on our website as well as in our hearts.

Rich, your physical presence will be missed, but you will always be a part of us.   I look forward to being with you again not as your employer, but as your friend.   You did catch the BIG FISH:   JESUS!!!

1 SAM 16:7b   "THE LORD DOES NOT LOOK AT THE THINGS MAN LOOKS AT.   MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART."

Ron Henry,   President

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