Marie Teresa D'Amato

White River Junction, VT - Marie Teresa Testa was born on June 3,1939 in Brooklyn to Joe and Tessie Testa. She grew up surrounded by family as during the Depression her grandfather, Rosario Adesso, purchased two apartment buildings side by side in Bensonhurst and gradually moved all of his children and their families into them. At 15 she met the love of her life, Pat D’Amato, who ingratiated himself to her family despite his being a Yankee fan while the Testa and Adesso families rooted for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Marie attended Our Lady of Guadeloupe and then St Brendan’s High School where she was the class president and an honor student. The FBI recruited her after graduation, and she worked as a stenographer taking notes for J. Edgar Hoover himself while Pat put himself through Brooklyn College as a member of the Air Force ROTC and by working nights at the American Can Company with his future father-in- law, Joe. Married on January 23, 1960, the newlyweds honeymooned in Bermuda. When hard-working Pat got a promotion, he surprised Marie with a vacation to Miami Beach where Marie entered a beauty contest on a whim and won the Miss Deauville title! Instead of traveling to an exotic locale with the Air Force, Pat’s orders moved the newlyweds to Fort Hamilton where in April 1961 their son Pat Michael was born. After Pat Sr. finished his Air Force service, they crossed the Verrazano bridge and followed the dirt roads to 219 Clarke Ave in Richmondtown. Marie did her research to find a home within walking distance to St Patrick’s School, the church, and Monsignor Farrell, the top Catholic high School on Staten Island. Marie wanted the best education and faith for Pat Jr. After moving to Staten Island, Marie and Pat made wonderful friends with the other young couples who moved into the new neighborhood to start their families. Marie Theresa was born in 1975, and in 1980 they moved to Essex Fells, New Jersey— not far milage- wise but a world away from their Staten Island community. Luckily, their former backyard neighbors, the Perris, lived in nearby North Caldwell and Rosemarie and her family helped show Marie the NJ ropes. Again, Marie was active in Marie Theresa’s schooling as class parent, PTA member, and perennial field trip volunteer. She taught CCD at Blessed Sacrament in Roseland, a testament to her strong faith. After Pat retired and Marie Theresa left for college, Pat and Marie started spending more time at their second home at Woodloch Springs in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Along with their dear friends and neighbors Pat and Anita Concessi, they began playing golf and enjoyed winter trips to Florida visiting with their Pocono and Staten Island friends alike. In 2002 they made the move to PA a permanent one and lived on the golf course until they moved to assisted living in Vermont in 2015. The staff of Valley Terrace since became Pat and Marie’s family as caregivers and friends, providing loving care and support before and after Pat passed away in October 2018. Valley Terrace enlightened us to the truth that angels really do live among us. Compassionate former and current staff members including Mick, Donna, Doris, David, Delores, Jeanette, Kevin, Eric, Angela, Kerry Ann, Heather, Maddy, Matt, Karina, Bobbi, Mad, Deb, Janine, Sarafina, Yvonne, Charles, Kayla, Lee Ann, Penny, Ann, Elyssa, Maceo, Celestina, Terry and so many others exhibited patience and compassion toward Marie and Pat even in the most difficult moments. The Bayada hospice staff went above and beyond any expectations we had including DJ, Betty, Lisa, Evangeline, and, of course, Danielle, whose presence allowed Marie’s final moments to be peaceful and special.
Marie loved reading novels by Maeve Binchi, Adriana Trigiani, James Patterson, and David Baldacci. She was lifelong Tony Bennett fan, loved Broadway shows, and enjoyed gambling with Pat in Atlantic City, Puerto Rico, and Las Vegas. She was a huge Disney fan and loved all of the characters, especially Cinderella— she would cry when she saw her in the parade. Marie hosted many holidays and was an outstanding cook! Some of her dishes of perfection include chicken cacciatore, stuffed artichokes, stuffed calamari, braciole, meatballs, sausage, and red gravy. Although she was never a baker, she did have a few dessert specialties: at Christmas she made frosted lemon drop cookies with sprinkles on top as well as walnut tarts. Marie Theresa still enjoys Mount St Helens cupcakes for her birthday to this day (the original batch — baked in ice cream cones— exploded all over Marie’s NJ oven around the time the volcano erupted in Washington). She was extremely proud of her Spanish Flan that tasted as good as Ferry St in Newark. Marie used to love to travel. Some of her favorite trips were to the places she returned to multiple times such as Disney World, Puerto Rico, St Maarten, Punta Cana, and, of course, Woodloch Pines for the third week in July and New Year’s Eve. Special trips included touring around Italy, California, England, and the American Southwest where Marie and Pat fell in love with Sedona. The last big trip Marie organized was to Las Vegas to celebrate Pat’s 70th Birthday in April 2008 with Pat Michael, Marie Theresa, and Emily. She booked rooms at Caesar’s Palace, tickets to phenomenal shows, and reservations at top restaurants. The last big social gathering Marie attended was the surprise party her kids threw to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary. All of Marie’s family and friends attended, including her beloved godchildren Stephanie Tocci Baldovin, Marie Louise Basso, Philip Franzese, and Lucia Cotugno Wheele who flew in all the way from Arizona for the occasion!

Marie is survived by son Pat Michael of Secaucus, New Jersey; daughter Marie Theresa, wife Emily Blake, and granddaughter Tess Blake-D’Amato of Wilder, Vermont as well as a menagerie of grand animals: Oliver and Olaf the dogs, Yoda and Leia the cats, Biscuit and Waffles the bunnies, and Cash and Delilah the horses. Marie is predeceased by her parents, Tessie and Joe; her brother Joseph Vincent; her husband, Pat; and Happy the dog.