Theodore (Theo) Comino was born in Sydney on 9 January 1922.
He was the son of Mena and Marule Comino (nee Katsulis), natives of Kythera Greece.
Theo was the youngest of four children.
When his father Mena died in 1924, his mother Marule returned to Greece with her children Theo, Dora, Fortenula and Anthony.
Theo stayed in Greece and went to school in Athens.
At the age of 16 he returned to Australia and worked in his brother in law’s café in Kyogle, NSW.
At 21, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force and served as a rigger with the 80 squadron in the Pacific during World War 2.
“Like many young Australians, my uncle served Australia in our darkest hour with courage, diligence, integrity and honour. He served through to 1945 and was honourably discharged,” says Theo’s nephew, Paul Comino.
After the war ended Theo was employed as a pastry cook.
In 1958, he met and married the love of his life, Virgie (nee Marendy) and the couple settled in Townsville.
Theo and Virgie on their wedding day .“The last thing my uncle said to me was that his loved his Virgie,” says Paul Comino about his uncle.
Theo and Virgie with their beloved nephew Paul.
They had two children, Marule (Marie) and Michael who passed away in 2001 in a fatal car accident.
Virgie worked as a school teacher in Townsville and Marie followed in her mother’s footsteps by also becoming a school teacher.
“Uncle Theo was a very ethical and honest man. He was an icon for our family, a true hero and some say he was also a member of Australia’s greatest generation.
“He will be missed by all,” concludes his nephew.
Theodore Comino passed away on Wednesday 2 January at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home, Townsville in the company of his family. His funeral service will be held today at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and then Townsville Crematorium.
Theo is survived by his wife Virgie, daughter Marule (Marie) and five nieces and nephews.