---

Beverly Jane Todaro, 88, passed peacefully on Saturday, July 27, 2024, after a purposeful, fulfilling, and beautiful life.

Beverly was born to Raymond and Florence Bloomquist on December 30, 1935 in Scandia, MN.  From the beginning, Beverly was adventurous, outgoing, and willing to try anything.  She sang in the choir, played the trumpet and piano, ski raced, modelled, life guarded, and earned her pilot’s license.  Although Beverly had many interests, the two things she valued the most were education and travelling abroad.  After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1958, she took a job teaching high school to military dependents in Verona, Italy.

While overseas Beverly met her loving husband, Joseph Todaro, a recent West Point graduate stationed in Vicenza, Italy.  They married on July 15th, 1961 at the post chapel and enjoyed an idyllic honeymoon on the island of Elba.  Their daughter Tamara was born in Vicenza a year later, and son Timothy in 1964 after returning to the states for a tour in Washington D.C.  During Joe’s two combat tours in Vietnam, Beverly dutifully raised their two children and held the family together until Joe’s return home. Beverly taught high school civics at the military bases where they were stationed, including a second tour in Vicenza, Italy. It was there in 1974 that she earned a Master’s degree in International Relations.  After Joe retired from the military, Beverly continued to teach in Fairfax County, VA, finally retiring after a remarkable 49 years of teaching.  

 In 2008, Beverly and Joe moved to Lacey, WA to be near their son Tim and his family. They lived out the rest of their years there and enjoyed traveling, playing tennis up until their late 70s, playing golf, gardening and – most importantly - spending time with family and friends.  Beverly was an accomplished piano player, hiker, avid reader, and she loved to do the daily crossword puzzles.  She also kept in touch with her sorority sisters from college and often travelled with them to places all over the world.  These past few years were difficult for her, having lost Joe in 2021 then battling the devastating effects of Parkinson’s Disease.  She never once complained about her declining health - not once.  She had the heart of a lion.  Beverly always made the best of her situation with a positive attitude, courageous spirit, mental resiliency, and love of life.  She made friends easily and enjoyed her life at an assisted living home near Tim.  She remained adventurous, social, and loving to the end.  Beverly will be remembered for many wonderful things, but we’ll remember her mostly for being a dedicated, loyal, and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. 

Beverly is preceded in death by her husband Joseph, her sister Barbara (Stuart) Johnson and infant brother Robert.  She is survived by her daughter Tamara (John) Herron; son Timothy (Lisa) Todaro; grandchildren, Tanner Todaro, Austin (Mariah) Herron, Jackson Herron, Megan Todaro and Sarah Todaro; nieces, Susan (Tom) Swanson and Sandra (Jon) Nickelson; and many very dear friends.  She will be buried next to her husband in the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA. A life well spent, Mom. We love you and will miss your beautiful smile.

---