Mary Theresa (Tessie) Tritschler
Mary Theresa “Tessie” Tritschler, 82, proud native of Santa Barbara, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2025.Tessie was born March 9, 1943, to Harry and Mary Vizzolini, joining her 3 older brothers: Harry Jr., Jim and Michael. Two years later her baby sister Mary Margaret “Peggy” completed the family.
Tessie attended Dolores Grammar School where she met many wonderful friends, including her lifelong friend Arlene Figone. They were both in the first graduating class from Bishop Garcia Diego High School in 1960. Tessie loved to work on the Class Reunion committees!
Soon after graduation, Tessie, met the love of her life, Hubert “Bert” Tritschler, who remained her husband and best friend for nearly 64 years. Tessie and Bert had two daughters, Stephanie and Julie. Tessie was involved in many aspects of her daughter’s lives, including Girl Scouts, Brownies and managing their Girls Club softball team. She continued managing other softball teams, including the Santa Barbara Fillies and the Whoppers. This brought her immense joy and purpose. Tessie joined Bunco in the 60’s and enjoyed playing up until COVID with many of the original ladies.
In 1984 Tessie joined the staff of the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic and later transferred to the Montecito branch, where she was the Office Manager until her retirement in 2000. She loved the doctors, office staff and patients that she dealt with on a daily basis and made many lasting friendships.
Once retired, Tessie and Bert discovered their new passion for the UCSB Women’s Basketball Team. They became Fast Breakers and joined with like-minded people traveling all over the country to watch the girls play regular and playoff season basketball. They even went with the team to Australia in 2004, a trip they will never forget! They were generous supporters and donors of the Gauchos for decades. They cherished the relationships they developed with both Fast Breakers, team members and coaching staff. Tessie and Bert hosted many gatherings for the Gauchos at their home. This, coupled with her love of cooking, feeding people and hosting parties, turned these gatherings into incredible events. Tessie actually credits the Gauchos with saving her life. She cancelled her scheduled mammogram to attend playoff basketball and rescheduled it for a later date. It is then when her doctor discovered she had breast cancer and admitted that had she kept her regular appointment, the tumor would have been so small it might not have been detected. Tessie is a two-time Breast Cancer warrior.
As a lifelong Los Angeles Dodger fan, Tessie relished baseball season. She would often watch a Dodger game on TV and have Vin Scully in an earpiece at the same time. She didn’t want to miss anything. She was ecstatic to attend the ‘88 World Series with her stepfather.
Many of Julie and Stephanie’s friends, who were in and out of Tessie’s house over the years, found solace in her hugs, heart and warm conversations. She “raised” many young women that were not her own. She was a caretaker by definition. Her ability to love you in spite of your faults was an incredible trait she inherited from her mother.
Tessie’s garden of fruit, vegetables and her beloved flowers yielded many gifts for others. Sharing with family and friends brought her immense joy. Baking pies and making ice cream and jam with the fruit from her yard dazzled all the benefactors of those lovely gifts. Her cheeseball was legendary!
Tessie leaves behind her husband Bert, daughters Stephanie Luken and Julie “Jules” Tritschler, a brother, Jim Vizzolini (Shirley) and sister, Peg Mueting (Jack), and sister-in-law Irene Vior. In addition she leaves behind many nieces and nephews and her three grandchildren: Allyson Isaacson (Derek), Brett Coulter (Erin) and RaeAnn Luken, and three great grandchildren, Claire Isaacson and Logan and Charlotte Coulter. Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She wanted them at her house every weekend. Baking cookies with them and having them around her filled her with delight. Bert installed a regulation size basketball hoop for their first grandchild, Allyson. The Gauchos later were often found out there playing a friendly game of Horse with Bert.
Tessie and her beautiful spirit will be missed beyond measure. We owe a heartfelt thank you to Villa Alamar for the care they provided to Tessie and the entire family. The staff cared for Tessie for 9 months to the day with love, compassion, and even humor when necessary! We are extremely grateful to all of them.
Please contact julechaser@AOL.com regarding information and to RSVP for Tessie’s Celebration of Life August 23rd.
