I knew Mary Pat and Ted from the 7th grade on. They were a couple as long as I knew them. They were part of that group that came to Central from 92nd St. to 98th St. south of Greenfield. It included Pete Baltmantis, Dan Miller, Jack Hinton, Jack Steliga, Harry Urbanski, and John Hanold. Ted's irreverant sense of humor was always "on." There simply was nothing he couldn't smile about or poke fun at. There's a comedian/actor, Dan Ackroyd, who doesn't look like Ted, but whose mannerisms and speech pattern seem to have been stolen from him.
Mary Pat was his foil. She was constantly trying to rein him in. Sort of. But I think she enjoyed it at least as much as the rest of us.
I saw her a few years ago. Actually she found me. I was at a performance by some comedian at the Pabst Theatre. She was waiting at the exit after the show. She said she heard my laugh and knew I was there. I think she was familiar with my laugh because of Ted.
Ever since I knew Mary Pat ("Potsy") she and Ted were always together. He was a like a mischievous little boy in this tall man's body and Potsy was the one who had to try to control the situation. Well good luck with that!!! When one of her older sisters, Maureen, worked at McAllister's Drugstore on Greenfield Ave. Potsy, Sharon Bruening, Judi Tallar and I would stop in after school to get our lemon or cherry cokes before catching the #75 bus home. Potsy was a very kind and caring person who was a pleasure to be with. This special couple will be missed.
Shirley Kavemeier (Mai)
Larry's "In Memory" comments about Ted Ballering and 9th grade brought back my own memories.,
I remember walking up to Greenfield Avenue after youth center on Friday nights with Mary Pat, Ted, and Pete.
(Mary Pat and Ted were a couple for a very long time; maybe they were together even in grade school.)
I lived about a mile from the pizza place back to 73rd and Beecher, and Pete always walked me home. One
Friday he was grounded and couldn't come to youth center. I couldn't walk all that way by myself at night,
so we called Pete from youth center and he said I should go because he WOULD be there. I was very
nervous because my folks couldn't pick me up since my Dad worked nights and had the car. As we
sat in the restaurant booth, Pete did show up to my great relief. (He had climbed out of his bedroom
window after his dad went to bed.) I got home safely, and poor Pete had a very long walk back home.
I can't believe they are all gone. Hopefully, they are all together getting "pizza" on Friday nights.
Alan Gesler
I knew Mary Pat and Ted from the 7th grade on. They were a couple as long as I knew them. They were part of that group that came to Central from 92nd St. to 98th St. south of Greenfield. It included Pete Baltmantis, Dan Miller, Jack Hinton, Jack Steliga, Harry Urbanski, and John Hanold. Ted's irreverant sense of humor was always "on." There simply was nothing he couldn't smile about or poke fun at. There's a comedian/actor, Dan Ackroyd, who doesn't look like Ted, but whose mannerisms and speech pattern seem to have been stolen from him.
Mary Pat was his foil. She was constantly trying to rein him in. Sort of. But I think she enjoyed it at least as much as the rest of us.
I saw her a few years ago. Actually she found me. I was at a performance by some comedian at the Pabst Theatre. She was waiting at the exit after the show. She said she heard my laugh and knew I was there. I think she was familiar with my laugh because of Ted.
Rest in peace. Together.
Jackie Williams (Hamilton)
Ever since I knew Mary Pat ("Potsy") she and Ted were always together. He was a like a mischievous little boy in this tall man's body and Potsy was the one who had to try to control the situation. Well good luck with that!!! When one of her older sisters, Maureen, worked at McAllister's Drugstore on Greenfield Ave. Potsy, Sharon Bruening, Judi Tallar and I would stop in after school to get our lemon or cherry cokes before catching the #75 bus home. Potsy was a very kind and caring person who was a pleasure to be with. This special couple will be missed.