Theodore’s Story

Theodore “Teddy” Fengarinas was a husband, father to twin boys, mechanic, and U.S. military veteran. However, his life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

Following his diagnosis, Teddy’s family decided to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. The results provided them with financial security and allowed Teddy to continue taking care of his loved ones even after his passing.

Teddy, a New York native, was always known for his warmth, humor, and ability to bring people together.

The son of a mechanic, Teddy grew up with a strong sense of hard work and curiosity. As a young child, he would ask his father endless questions about his job, eager to understand how things worked.

After graduating from high school and entering the workforce, Teddy decided to start his own family. In 1972, he married his wife Theresa. The pair had twin boys, Steve and Nick, who greatly admired their dad.

“He was always the life of the party,” said Steve. “Everybody would come over to hear him talk or tell stories. He was a hero to all my friends. They all thought that he was the coolest guy, me included. It was special being able to call him my dad.”

Throughout his life, Teddy worked tirelessly to provide for his family, but he never let the demands of work dim his joy. Whether at home, with friends, or alongside coworkers, he brought laughter and a sense of togetherness wherever he went.

As a young man, Teddy was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. In 1969, he left for boot camp and spent 8 weeks training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

Eventually, Teddy was stationed in Germany, where he worked as a cook. However, after some time, he decided to pursue a role that better suited him.

“I went to see the first sergeant, the captain. I didn’t want to be a cook anymore, I wanted to do something else,” Teddy explained. “So he said there was an opening in the motor pool.”

Teddy quickly found his stride while signing out jeeps and trucks to other soldiers. He was honorably discharged in 1971, but that period of his life had a profound impact on him.

Years later, when his son Nick followed in his footsteps and joined the U.S. National Guard, Teddy was deeply moved to see him walk a similar path to the one he had taken.

After serving in the military, Teddy was hired as a laborer for Nassau County. He was then transferred to a nearby garage, where he worked as a mechanic’s helper.

“We worked on small dump trucks that would carry dirt and sand and everything,” recalled Teddy. “Most of them were Fords. And then we had heavy equipment come in for service, and we’d check the brakes.”

Later in his career, Teddy took on the role of highway maintenance supervisor. He would bring equipment over to the auto shop, where dust would fill the air as mechanics worked on clutches and brakes.

“They were blowing out all the brake pads and dust on all sorts of equipment,” explained Steve. “But all the brake pads had asbestos in them.”

Although Teddy regularly breathed in microscopic asbestos fibers at work, the effects of that exposure wouldn’t appear until decades later.

Mesothelioma can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years to develop, so for a long time, Teddy remained healthy and active. Even at 76, he was still chopping wood, doing chores, and keeping up with his daily routine. Then, one day, everything changed.

“There was just a weight in his chest, and he couldn’t breathe,” said Steve. “He ended up going to the hospital and finding out that he had a pleural effusion, and there were 5 liters of fluid in his chest.”

Teddy underwent a procedure to drain the fluid, and doctors took a tissue sample from his lung for testing.

Soon after, they delivered the difficult news: Teddy had pleural mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

After Teddy’s mesothelioma diagnosis, his family was left reeling. They had heard about the disease on TV, but they didn’t truly know what it was, what to expect, or what to do next.

Determined to fight, Teddy began mesothelioma treatments, including immunotherapy. Nurses came to his house 3 times a week to drain the fluid from his lungs.

As Teddy’s health declined, roles in the family began to shift. His son Steve found himself taking on new responsibilities and helping his parents navigate the medical system.

“When you’re young, your parents are in charge. They make all the doctor’s appointments and do all of the adult stuff,” said Steve. “But then I watched my dad get sick and struggle, and suddenly I started making all the doctor’s appointments and taking him to treatments.”

Steve took time off work to bring his parents to New York City for appointments. Seeing his dad struggle through treatment was difficult, but it brought about a newfound appreciation for every moment they spent together.

When Teddy’s family learned that companies that made the asbestos-containing products he worked with knew the mineral was dangerous but used it anyway, they decided to file an asbestos claim.

The family contacted Simmons Hanly Conroy for help, and a team member went to their home to learn about Teddy’s story and discuss their options.

“We sat down at the dining room table for almost 4 hours, and we just talked,” Steve recalled. “We talked about my father’s life, what he did for a living, and his military experience. It just felt like home in a way, so that going forward with them seemed like a no-brainer.”

While their mesothelioma attorney handled all the paperwork and legal proceedings, the family was able to focus on Teddy’s care and daily life. Their attorney provided regular updates, keeping the family informed every step of the way.

Tragically, Teddy passed away from mesothelioma before his case concluded. His family believes his full, active life was cut short by this disease.

“What happened to my dad wasn’t his fault, and it wasn’t fair,” said Steve. “He didn’t deserve this. Asbestos was the cause of the whole thing.”

For Steve, Nick, and Theresa, coping with this loss meant leaning on friends and loved ones for support. Teddy had been the kind of person who brought light wherever he went, and his absence left a profound void in their lives.

“I’m really upset because I was looking forward to making him a grandfather and bringing a baby home to him one day, and I can’t do that anymore,” expressed Steve.

At first, Teddy and Theresa didn’t think filing a mesothelioma lawsuit would be worth it. However, their sons were determined not to let negligent asbestos companies escape accountability for the harm they had caused.

“These companies know better. They’ve known for decades that this is a problem, but they’re just focused on greed and making money over people’s lives. It’s not okay,” said Steve.

As the claims were negotiated and mesothelioma settlements were reached, compensation began to arrive. After Teddy’s passing, the checks felt as though he was continuing to provide for his family.

“The money gave me the ability to buy my house. My brother bought a house. It set us up financially, so we can improve our lives,” said Steve. “And my dad’s name is stamped on that.”

No family should have to face the devastating impact of a mesothelioma diagnosis. By pursuing legal action, families can hold asbestos companies accountable and seek compensation for their suffering.

At Simmons Hanly Conroy, our mesothelioma law firm is proud to deliver results to our clients — but we’re equally grateful for the meaningful relationships we build along the way.

“They’ve done so much for us, helping us navigate this whole situation. Even regardless of the settlements and the lawsuits and all that stuff, they were always calling and checking to see how we were doing,” recalled Steve. “They felt like family.”

From the very beginning, our clients are assigned a dedicated legal team, so they know exactly who is handling their case. Communication is clear and consistent, providing a more personal experience during an otherwise overwhelming time.

“If I ever had a question or something that I was thinking about, I would just call up our lawyer,” said Steve. “I didn’t have to wait on hold. I had a direct phone line to the legal team, and they were always right there for me if I ever had any questions.”

We’re committed to guiding families through every step of the legal process, helping them access the compensation and justice they deserve after a mesothelioma diagnosis.