When you live where Teodoro Rivera lives, it鈥檚 hard not to lend a helping hand.
Rivera lives directly across the hallway from the Health and Social Services office on the first floor of 91看片 Roseville Senior, where NCC staff assist both seniors and disabled residents with a wide range of needs.
Care Coordinator Alisha Chatman-Jenkins described Rivera, known as 鈥淭eddy,鈥� as playing 鈥渁 special role in the building by being my interpreter for fellow Hispanic residents who do not speak English.鈥�
鈥淎ny activities in the building he is always active and willing to lend a helping hand,鈥� she added.
Rivera puts it this way: 鈥淚鈥檓 her right hand,鈥� he said, referring to Chatman-Jenkins.
Recently, Rivera tackled a difficult task with Social Services: meeting with a Spanish-speaking resident to discuss regular upkeep of their apartment.
鈥淚f they don鈥檛 take care of their apartment, they鈥檙e not going to take care of themselves,鈥� Rivera, 75, said.
When someone needs help translating paperwork, Rivera opens his door and welcomes the resident to sit at his dining room table. He keeps his apartment meticulously clean, with photographs of his grandchildren lining the wall, kitchen pristine, and his acoustic guitar within arm鈥檚 reach. A Vietnam War veteran, Rivera credits his service in the Army and his upbringing with instilling the habit of cleanliness.
He says he also keeps his kitchen orderly because he loves to cook. Seafood is his specialty鈥攃eviche, shrimp salad and paella, to name a few鈥攁nd when there鈥檚 a gathering in Roseville Senior, Rivera enjoys bringing his signature dishes.
When Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey in 2012 and cut the power to his building, Rivera used a fuel can to help his neighbors with small comforts. He personally delivered a cup of hot water to a woman on the third floor who wanted to drink tea. 鈥淪he was so happy when I gave her that cup of hot water,鈥� Rivera recalled.
鈥淚 always tell him that he is a model resident and wish I had a building full of Teddy鈥檚,鈥� Chatman-Jenkins said. In 1992, Rivera was honored by NCC as 鈥淔ather Of The Year鈥� and proudly displays his plaque on a shelf in his living room.
Born in 1939 in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, Rivera arrived in the U.S. at age 16 and lived with his older brother, Tony, and worked on a farm in Passaic picking tomatoes and cabbages for a year. He worked in a factory until 1965 when, at age 25, Rivera was drafted into the Army and spent nine months in Vietnam. An ardent supporter of veterans, Rivera is often spotted wearing his Vietnam veteran cap or t-shirt. He says he also donates $10 or $20 to Veterans Affairs, 鈥渨hatever I can.鈥�
The second youngest of eight siblings, Rivera returned to Puerto Rico after serving in Vietnam but decided to soon move back to New Jersey and began working for the Teamsters Local 945. Before he was drafted, Rivera and a group of 鈥渒ids from the block鈥� formed a rock/blues band that performed at bars in Paterson and as far away as Baltimore. Rivera played guitar, bass and drums but after his stint in the Army, the group dissolved. Rivera still plays guitar for his own enjoyment. In his free time, he spends time in Paterson with his son, Carlos, daughter, Carmen, and Carmen鈥檚 three children.
