Obituary of Terry Nelson Tretick

Terry Nelson Tretick Sr., affectionately known by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as “Pop Pop”, and “Grumpy” by former players, coaches, colleagues, and mentees, passed away at his home in Culpeper, VA surrounded by family on Monday, February 13, 2017 at the age of 78. He was born on April 24, 1938 in Washington D.C., to the late Myer and Eugene Robrecht Tretick. Terry shared 54 years of marriage with the love of his life, the late Rita Marie (Hill) Tretick, known affectionately to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as “Boo Boo”. They married in Wheaton, Maryland on May 5, 1956. Terry was the loving and devoted father and father-in-law of Therese (Tretick) and Gary Gardner of Sterling, VA, Deborah (Tretick) and Lowell Gardner of Sterling, VA, Catherine (Tretick) and Barry Yeargin of Zion Crossroads, VA, Carolyn (Dwyer) and Terry Tretick Jr., of Round Hill, VA, and Vicki (Gray) and Michael Tretick of Falls Creek, Pennsylvania. He was the proud grandfather of 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. In his youth, Terry attended Charlotte Hall Military Academy, located in Charlotte Hall, Maryland. It is here where Terry honed his impeccable work ethic, and seemingly “rough” exterior that primed him for a career as an electrician for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local Union 26. He retired after 30 plus years of service. In his spare time, Terry volunteered in his community to coach girls’ softball, little league baseball, and boys football. He also served as a Men’s Board Member for the Lower Loudoun Boys Football League (LLBFL). Terry dedicated 35 years of his life to the LLBFL by serving as a head coach to several football teams; with most pride, the “B League” Lions. Not only was he an exemplary role model to his players but to the coaches that coached alongside him. His service went beyond teaching basic football skills; he manicured and groomed the football field with a passion only matched by his commitment to inspiring youth in his community through the game of football. Throughout his 35 years of service to the LLBFL, and after his retirement from coaching, Terry and Rita, handcrafted Christmas lawn decorations, and put on a tremendous display each holiday season, in and outside of their home in both Sterling, VA and Culpeper, VA. Utilizing his wiring skills, Terry rigged numerous Christmas trees with thematic lights, ornaments, and tinsel. His most famous tree had limitless light combinations and an overzealous, but festive application of tinsel. Terry was much like his favorite libation-Jack Daniels “on the rocks”; from the first introduction or the first sip, you would be hit with an overwhelming sense of raw, unbridled candor that simultaneously disarmed you as it enabled you to respect him and what he had to say. But, as one continued to imbibe, or got familiar with Terry’s demeanor, there was a realization that his honest-to-God realness that made you question yourself, comforted and warmed you inside. Terry was a drink with an old friend as much as he was the cheerfulness and jovialness of Santa Claus at Christmastime. He’s everyone’s favorite friend who always made you feel at home even though you were just scolded for wearing a baseball cap to the dinner table. He will be missed tremendously, but his legacy will live on in the resiliency he instilled in those lives’ that he touched and the unexpected lessons that were taught, on and off that pristine field. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 19, 2017 from 6-8 p.m. at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, where funeral services will be held on Monday, February 20, 2017 at 11 am. Interment will immediately follow at Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, VA. Memorial Contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society at cancer.org