I was distraught to learn last summer that Teddi had experienced a series of strokes. After suffering for months, she passed away due to complications from a MRSA infection.
Teddi and I crossed paths while serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In
1989 I was called to serve a mission in Atlanta, Georgia in the ASL program. Teddi was serving in
North Carolina and had been transferred to Georgia where she was assigned to be
my trainer. I am sure it wasn’t easy to transfer to a completely different
mission to open up a new area from scratch with a brand-new companion, who was
still struggling to learn the language! But Teddi accepted these challenges
with determination. She was naturally gifted in American Sign Language and made
instant connections with the Deaf Community in our area. I loved watching her express
herself through ASL and hoped that one day I would be able to express myself in
ASL as beautifully and fluently as she did!
I learned so
much from Teddi. We experienced many challenges and a wide range of emotions
during the five months that we served together and I am grateful for Teddi’s example
of empathy and understanding. Besides our mutual love for ASL and the Deaf
Community, we also shared a love of music. Teddi was skilled in both singing
and playing the piano and we had the opportunity to perform several musical
numbers together during the time that we were missionary companions. After our
missions we kept in touch on and off through the years and I was in awe of
everything that she accomplished! One of the more recent highlights for me
included the opportunity to attend her workshop titled, "Be Strong Little Marshmallow!" Thank you, Teddi, for your example, and for being a
trainer, mentor, and friend!
🤟Wendy Westra Jensen
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Obituary
Teddi Lynn Covey von Pingel passed away at 9:00 PM on Friday, January 10th, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona at the age of 58, after various strokes and a complication with a MRSA infection.
Teddi was a most kind, highly intelligent, considerate, thoughtful, lovely, loving, sensitive person. She was happiest as a mother and wife. She cherished her immediate family and loved her extended family. Teddi wanted to be a mom over anything else and eventually she and Eric were blessed with two girls and a boy.
Teddi is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Eric von Pingel; her children, Olivia, D’Artagnan (Mackenzie), and Sophia; her siblings, Sean, Cami, Aaron, Damon, Josh, and Brendan; her mother, Priscilla Covey; as well as her aunts, uncles, and many nieces and nephews.
Teddi was born January 5th 1967 in Globe, Arizona to Priscilla and Clay Covey. She grew up in Globe, went to school, and finished her schooling at Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona in 1984. She went on to pursue a short period of design school in Los Angeles, and a small amount of schooling at BYU, before serving an ASL (American Sign Language) assigned LDS Mission in the Georgia/Tennessee area, which helped shape many aspects of her life and career.
Teddi first met Eric on May 29th, 1997 on the internet at ldssingles.com. Although she was in Arizona and Eric was in California, it did not take long before they wanted to meet in person. On June 19th, 1997 Teddi flew out to meet Eric in CA and it was magical from day one. Eric asked Teddi to marry him on the drawbridge at Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, Disneyland on August 2nd, 1997. Eric was later able to secure a job in Arizona in November, and moved out to Arizona for the two to be married on December 20th, 1997. Eric and Teddi began their marriage in Arizona for 8 ½ years, then moving to Utah for 17 years, and back to Mesa, AZ in 2023. They spent 27 wonderful years together and wished for so much more
Teddi revisited her schooling after all of her kids were in school full time. Teddi then graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in 2014 studying Deaf Studies/Interpreting from Utah Valley University, her Master’s Degree in 2016 studying Interpreting Pedagogy from University of North Florida, and her Doctorate in 2019 studying Education, Innovation and Leadership from Arizona State University.
Teddi worked for the Chandler School District, Sorenson Communications, many different Interpreting agencies, UNF and UVU as an adjunct professor, UTRID as President from 2021-2023, and Family Fusion/Fusion You as COO. Leading up to the life-changing strokes in 2024, she worked on an ASL app, entitled ASL Flurry, with a good friend. She had passion for every job and gave each one 100% effort. She truly enjoyed interpreting, although at times it was physically challenging, and she especially had a lot of passion for her last position, looking forward to its future. Teddi impacted so many lives throughout her career.
Teddi also had immense passion for other parts of everyday life. She loved all forms of crafts such as scrapbooking, sewing, decorating, drawing/painting, pottery, and more. She loved collecting earrings of all colors, shapes and sizes. She loved to read, especially for her own growth and education. She loved being a mom, which was a lifetime dream. She loved Disneyland and anything Disney. She absolutely loved Christmas. Teddi had become a dog mom and truly loved her doggies, Tinkerbell, Ginger, Poppy, and her Grand-Dog Sam. She had a real desire and passion to learn, from Water Zumba to learning the Cherokee Language to respect her heritage. She loved and had future plans to travel. She was able to go to Austria with a work/school group, to Denmark with her family, to Africa with “Mother’s Beyond Borders”, and to Europe with her husband on a Christmas market trip in 2023 down the Danube River.
Teddi impacted many in her everyday life, whether it be family, friends, or other daily interactions. She became great friends with really everyone she had the chance to have a conversation with. She mentored many interpreters, and taught many others with much love, and they loved her back. She supported so many precious friends in both their good and challenging times. Her love was vast and so tangible. She will be missed by countless individuals.
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When I was searching for more information concerning Teddi's passing, I came across this wonderful interview about her done by voyage phoenix. I loved reading more of her story and learning more about her many accomplishments!
https://voyagephoenix.com/interview/life-work-teddi-lynn-covey-von-pingel/
Today we’d like to introduce you to Teddi Lynn Covey von Pingel.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a native of Arizona – born in Globe, Arizona (home of the most delicious Mexican food!). I am the oldest of seven children, with five brothers and one precious sister. My journey is non-traditional and at times, meandering. Right after high school graduation, I moved to Los Angeles, CA to attend fashion design school. I was 17-years old and determined to put my passion for art and clothing to good use. However, I quickly figured out that LA wasn’t for me – I was too young, too inexperienced, and too far away from home. I returned to Arizona and transferred to another school to continue working in Fashion Design. It was a slow process and when I was 21, I decided to serve a volunteer mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was asked to learn American Sign Language (ASL) and work with the Deaf communities in North Carolina and Georgia. I didn’t know at the time, that this one decision changed my life path in ways I would be discovering for the next 30 years. I was immediately immersed in ASL and the Deaf community – a rich linguistic and cultural group. After I completed my mission, I went on to interpret in Arizona, Tennessee, Washington DC and back to Arizona, my home.
In 2006, my husband and I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah area with our three young children. I was working as a Video Relay Service interpreter for Sorenson Communications and transferred to the new location. I continued interpreting in a variety of settings, including a dedicated interpreter for a Deaf doctor in residency. In 2012, I was hired as a mentor for the Video Relay Service Interpreting Institute (VRSII) and another turn in the road began. I lOVED being a mentor! The VRSII had a School to Work program where recent college graduates would come for an intensive three-month program, onsite in SLC. I was responsible for mentoring them through the experience and in preparation for taking the national certification test for interpreters.
Since those beginning years with VRSII, I have mentored over 100 interpreters and the common challenge, outside of language acquisition and fluency, is self-confidence. I found a secondary passion – to help others build their belief in themselves and find the tools to quiet the negative self-talk in their head. I developed workshops that would extend this dialogue beyond the VRSII participants and included my local interpreting community. I then took it to other states and have continued to refine and develop an approach that allows each person to take their own approach to improve self-confidence.
In 2017, I started working with Family Fusion in Mesa, as part of their Liminal Retreat team. I took my years of experience mentoring interpreters and applied it to general life and women in all types of life journeys that want to feel empowered and confident. I have traveled with Family Fusion to support retreats in Park City, Utah, Juarez, Mexico, and back home in Mesa, Arizona. I love giving back to those I work with and the greatest joy I experience is seeing them embrace who they are and who they can be… when they feel empowered and confident.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life is never smooth, but it does lead us where we need to be. One of the biggest challenges for me was trying to get the education to give me the knowledge and credentials to be an educator. I had taken classes sporadically through 20 years. However, I was raising kids and working with little time for ‘me’. In 2012, I returned to school part-time and was able to complete an associates degree in 2013, a bachelors’ degree in 2014, a master’s degree in 2015 and am currently enrolled in an educational doctorate program that I will complete in 2019. So, in seven short years, a dream I thought would never happen became a reality… and then some! I never imagined myself with a doctorate degree until I stepped on that path. It is hard. It requires sacrifice and discipline but it is not without anyone’s reach. Education has allowed me to broaden my perspectives and be exposed to other ways of thinking and seeing the world – that benefits me in all aspects of life.
My advice for young women – you can have it all, but maybe not all at once or in the order, you have decided. Be open to the journey and where life takes you. Never accept the idea that you are an ‘imposter’ and don’t know what you are doing. Life experience is valid and principles of truth are everywhere – find them! Being confident doesn’t mean bullying, being egotistical, or looking down on others. It does mean knowing who you are, being your own best cheerleader and constantly working to stay balanced in spirit, heart, and mind.
Please tell us about your work.
My current position in Sorenson Communications is a Leadership Development Specialist in the Corporate Learning and Development Department. I am designing and implementing a company-wide leadership program based on both lean and rich skills that are needed to manage people… not just things. Out program will embody principles found in the work of Brene Brown, Stephen Covey, and many others. I’m excited to see which managers will be a ‘first adopter’ in embracing these principles of people over processes. I want to inspire managers to see the potential in others and grow employee strengths, thereby also growing their own skills.
I believe my strengths to lie with people and soft skills. I was raised by a great example – my Dad. He was a chiropractor in a small town. He would post inspirational quotes every week on a large signboard outside his office. Driving through our town, you could read these small truths and reminders and in fact, people still talk about those times when Covey Chiropractic was a permanent fixture of inspiration in the town. My Dad was great with people – going out of his way to shake hands, introduce himself and make people feel comfortable. He often bartered with patients that couldn’t afford his services and he never turned anyone away that couldn’t pay. One of my fondest memories was our kitchen counters at Christmastime – covered in tamales, baked goods, fruits, nuts, candy… all gifts of gratitude from those he served. I aspire to be like him.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I believe that anyone can be a mentor, truly! You don’t have to have expertise in an area to mentor in that same area. What you do need is expertise in helping others find resources, tools, and what works for them. If you are looking for a mentor, start with your closest network – family and friends. Ask around. Find someone that embodies qualities that you want to emulate and ask them to mentor you. Give back to those that mentor – find a way to be reciprocal, even if it’s not monetarily. Be like my dad, barter!
I believe in accountability to yourself and others. Set regular meetings with your mentor and do the work that they suggest, even if at first, you’re not sure it will work. Be open and be ready to look inward. I believe in mentee-driven agendas for mentoring. If you don’t know what you need, don’t expect someone else to tell you! You have your own unique ways of assessing your inner and outer skills – be prepared to discuss those!
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