Teofilo Mondares

Teofilo Balmaceda “Ted” Mondares, age 91, of Seattle, Washington, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2026, at Hillwood Senior Care in Shoreline, Washington. In his last days he was surrounded by his loving family.

Ted was born on February 18, 1935, to Justina Abiera Balmaceda Mondares and Emilio Rosario Mondares in San Carlos, Pangasinan, Luzon Island, Philippines, the second of nine children. He grew up in the Philippines during World War II, and he learned 4 languages: Pangasinan language, Tagalog, English, and Japanese. (during the occupation of the Philippines).

He served honorably in the Coast Guard for 20 years. The missions of the ships on which he served involved rescues at sea, antisubmarine warfare in the Bering Sea during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and polar operations in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Among his USCG ships were the Yocona, the Fir, and the icebreaker Northwind (WAGB-282). He later specialized in administration and personnel and rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, serving in the Coast Guard’s 9th District in Cleveland, Ohio, which was responsible for operations in the Great Lakes region. He retired from the US Coast Guard in 1975. After a brief stint in maritime law, he served as a Federal Civilian administrator for the 13th US Coast Guard District, in Seattle for 39 years until his retirement in 2016. During the early post-retirement years, he studied to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Finance, at Central Washington University’s Lynnwood extension program.

In 1960 Ted married his sweetheart, Joyce Ellen Pelkey, beginning a marriage and partnership that spanned 35 years. Together, they raised their two daughters, Rowena and Nancy, and built a life together. They began their married life in Seattle, later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and eventually returned to Washington, making their home in Mountlake Terrace and later Mukilteo. Through those years, their home reflected the steadiness, responsibility, and commitment to family that defined so much of Ted’s life. Joyce passed away in 1996, after 35 years of marriage.

In 1997, in Seattle, WA, Ted married Robin, his beloved wife of the past 29 years.

Ted was proud of the US Coast Guard and a true patriot of his adoptive country, the United States of America.

Ted and Robin enjoyed dinner dances (he danced like a dream), road trips, and travels home to the Philippines with the Filipino American Military Retired Association (FAMRA) and with his family. His pride and joy were his grandchildren and great grandchildren. His hobbies were yardwork, entertaining at home, and music; his favorites were Perez Prado, Franz von Suppé’s “Poet and Peasant Overture,” and Filipino kundimans (folk songs). Robin and Ted’s songs were “New York New York” sung by Frank Sinatra and the Filipino kundiman “Dahil Sa Iyo.”

Ted loved incomparably and gave selflessly. Those whom he loved and helped would follow him to the ends of the earth. To know him was to love him.

True to his Silent Generation (children of the Great Depression and World War II), Ted was frugal, loyal, dedicated, and a hard worker. Our beloved was thoughtful, diligent, patient, and a true gentleman; kind, forgiving, and reverent in his faith. He was a “clothes horse,” handsome and beautiful in whatever he wore; he shared this artistic appreciation as he joyfully bought clothes for his loved ones.

He loved nothing better than to be in the company of his friends and loved ones, as they laughed and told stories of past times together. As we gathered by his bedside, we recalled the many life lessons we had learned from him and cherished his presence to us.

Ted is survived by his beloved wife, Robin; his children and their families: Rowena Mondares, and her children, Bianca Cooper Mondares (Dom Woolery) and Nicolas “Nic” Cooper, and grandchildren Jayce James Lopez and Myles Teofilo Woolery; Nancy Mondares (Nina Finelli); Elena Coby (Tosha Baker), and her children, Yasmeen Coby and Ashlynn Jenkins; Mariana Broussard, and her children, Noah and Jalyn Broussard; Weston Coby (Cleo Haynal), and their children, Orion and Xavier Coby; and Bryon Coby.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Joyce Ellen Pelkey of the First Nations of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada; his siblings, Florita Guianan, Estela Abad, Conrado, Godofredo, Estrella Oira, and Elizabeth Mondares.

Ted’s celebration of life will be at Epiphany Seattle, 1805 38th Avenue, Seattle WA 98122, at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

in lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to the charity of your choice.