Edward “Ted” DeLorenzo passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Ted was born in Newton on January 22, 1950, a son of the late Edward and Marion (Hansen) DeLorenzo. Ted was raised in Newton and made Billerica his home for the past 50 years; a place where he and his lifelong love, Dona (Karas) DeLorenzo, built a life filled with devotion, humor, and steadfast companionship. Together, Ted and Dona raised two sons, Stephen DeLorenzo and Jeffrey DeLorenzo, who became the men he was most proud of. They remained faithfully by his side throughout his life, especially during his most recent health challenges.
Ted worked for a number of organizations throughout his career, primarily in Warehouse Operations and Buyer/Planner roles. He spent much of his career at the former companies Data Printer and Micro-Dynamics, and also worked at New England retail staples Lechmere, Bradlees and Best Buy. A strong work ethic was central to Ted’s success, but more meaningful were the lifelong friendships he formed along the way.
Ted loved a wide variety of activities, and at the heart of all of them was the joy of sharing experiences with the family and friends he cherished. Music played a major role in his life. An avid guitar player, he spent his younger years jamming with friends while plucking chords on his Gibson acoustic guitar, and later found his greatest joy in sharing that passion with his son Stephen. A devoted fan of ’60s and ’70s rock, he seemed to know every word to songs by bands from the Rolling Stones to the Beatles. Video games were another lifelong constant. From the Commodore 64 era all the way to the PlayStation 5, you could find him nightly immersed in the latest game. He treasured his “game time, party time” with close friends and with his son Jeffrey.
Ted also loved traveling, more specifically going on cruises with his dear wife and family members. Seeing different parts of the world in this way brought him tremendous happiness. He was an enthusiastic documenter of life’s moments, rarely without a video or compact camera in hand. Capturing vacations like the ones in Cape Cod and family events (holiday themed parties, bbq’s), and reflecting on those memories were one of his greatest pleasures.
He also found joy in simpler moments: watching Boston sports teams, going out for seafood, attending concerts, enjoying the occasional White Russian, and savoring a big bowl of coffee ice cream.
Family was everything to Ted. He loved being “Grampy” and “Papa” to his grandchildren, Ian, Noah, and Ellie, whose laughter brought him joy beyond compare. Watching them grow, and seeing all the ways his life and legacy would carry forward, truly made him feel complete. He is also survived by his two sisters, Patricia “Patty” Defilippo and Nancy Wardwell, both residing in Florida. Ted was the middle child, and the bond among them was strong. He cared for his sisters immensely, and nothing made him happier than spending holidays and major life moments by their side. Helping complete the family, he is survived by his beloved daughters-in-law: Stephen’s wife, Cheryl of Burlington, and Jeffrey’s wife, Nicole, also of Burlington. Lastly, his loyal dog Rieley, who rarely left his side and remained a faithful companion for 13 years; was a constant source of comfort and love.
Ted faced cancer four times with grit, humor, and remarkable strength. He ultimately succumbed to throat cancer following a year-long battle, fighting every step with courage and dignity. Even on the toughest days, he found ways to make others feel at ease; a “thumbs up,” a story, a gentle joke; reminding everyone around him what resilience truly looks like.
He will forever be in our hearts.
In honor of Ted’s memory, donations can be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support cancer research and patient care. Donations can be made online at the Jimmy Fund / Dana Farber giving page: jimmyfund.org/gift. In addition, donations can also be made online at the AllCare donations page: https://allcare.org/donate.
