Theodore “Ted” Pino March 15, 1948 - January 27, 2025

Theodore Van Pino was born on March 15, 1948, at 11:55 pm in San Jose, CA, to Raymond Pino and Edith Eichhorn Pino, who were students at San Jose Bible College. He passed away at his home in Turlock, CA on January 28, 2025.
In 1951, the family moved to Lawndale, CA. His grandfather built the house. That short time was the most enjoyable part of his childhood.
The family moved to Turlock in the fall of 1952 after his parents divorced. His grandparents, John and Emily Eichhorn, took in the family of four and treated them like their own children. During this time, there were six people in a two bedroom house at 128 Vermont Avenue. Ted’s younger brother, Jan, died of polio in July 1954. The house was still too small, so they moved to their current address on North Broadway in Turlock in October 1956.
Ted started working early in life and did everything from cutting apricots and picking berries to raising guinea pigs and delivering papers. In 1962, Ted began working at Jensen’s Five & Dime, and this beloved job not only taught him to run a store and take care of fish, but it also gave him a secondary family in the Jensen’s.
Ted joined the Air Force June 19, 1967, and he was honorably discharged as an E5 Staff Sergeant in 1971. He did basic training in Amarillo, TX, Tech School at the Lowry AFB in Denver, CO, served overseas at Wheelus AFB in Tripoli, Libya, and ended his military service at McClellan AFB in Sacramento, CA.
Ted’s educational journey began with Hawthorne Elementary, Wakefield, Turlock High School, and Modesto Junior College. He used the GI Bill from his military service to complete his BA in accounting and his MBA at California State University, Stanislaus.
Ted married the love of his life, Carol Frost, on April 3rd, 1976, while teaching at Turlock Christian Academy.
In 1977, he left his job at Jensen’s to begin his own business, Tropical Haven, with business partner and best friend, Mike Warda. Tropical Haven has been in business ever since. During his time as a tropical fish store owner, he created an aquarium supply wholesaler called Technical Engineering & Development, LLC (T.E.D.), which was in business for 15 years. In addition to his love of fish, he loved growing avocados and other fruits, and was an active member of the California Rare Fruit Growers Association.
Ted was a blessing to his many friends and family members, who enjoyed his magic tricks, clever jokes, knowledge of the scriptures, and the shining light of his faith.
Ted leaves behind his wife, Carol (née Frost), daughters Elizabeth Taylor (G. Donnhaile), Emily Pino-Williams (B. Williams), Dorothy Pino (A. Lamp), and Katherine Dos Reis (A. Dos Reis); grandchildren Margaret Louise Williams and soon-to-be born, Thomas Eugene Dos Reis; Siblings Lois Dymond, Hope (Nana) Gage and Steven Carr; and many loved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, including Gary, Sherry, and Anna Larson, Vern Larson, Bonnie, Wayne, and Jacob Schmidt, and so many more.
A celebration of life will be held at Allen Mortuary at 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 30, and visitation begins at 11am that day.