Team Tepper reaches out for support
June 19, 2008
By MARCIA SAGENDORPHThe Tepper family needs a miracle. Or more precisely, two miracles.
Debbi Tepper, 50, of Round Lake Beach, died suddenly from a mysterious illness May 29. She was known for being the type of person who always took care of others in her family, in her Lakewood Hills neighborhood and throughout Grayslake where her son attends school.
Debbi is survived by her husband George, her daughter Jamie Cieplinski, 23, and her son Brandon Tepper, 12.
She died on the very day the family learned they were about to lose their home to foreclosure.
Meanwhile, George Tepper needs a second kidney transplant. He has polycystic kidney disease, and since Debbi’s death, has relied on family and neighbors to drive him to dialysis three times per week. The extensive medical bills the family has incurred caused them to get behind on their house payments.
They need cash donations now to save the house and, in a perfect world, get a new kidney for George.
“We are trying to save this house,” said Lori Koons, organizer of Team Tepper. About 52 people have already joined the team, and about 25 people attended a planning meeting June 12 at the Round Lake Police Station.
“So far, we’ve raised nearly $20,000 in about eight days,” Koons said, which is a long way from the amount needed to cover expenses.
If not, the house is due to go to auction July 28.
Donations of any size from anywhere are needed.
Growing up, Debbi (Tepper) Saey and her brother Robert and sisters Sheri and Lori lived in Skokie, and attended to Niles East High School. They still have friends throughout the North Shore. Now, family members live in Arizona and Florida.
“I think that it was so stressful for my sister to know that she might lose the home that she loved that it shorted out her system, and she died,” said Robert Saey. “George is still taking care of the kids. There are a lot of needs.”
Les Cieplinski of Lake Bluff, Debbi’s ex-husband, is among the people working to raise money.
“We’ve all been trying to pitch in and help, and we are all trying to raise as much money as possible,” said Cieplinski.
“People from all over are coming together to help George,” said Koons. “Everytime we hit a wall, then something else comes together. It is helping me get through the grief of losing Debbi.”
For regular updates on fund-raisers, to express condolences or to help the family, visit www.DebbiTepper.com. Donations can be made to any Fifth Third Bank under “Team Up for the Teppers.”
Posted on June 19th, 2008 by admin
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