Ted Steege, Property Manager, Fairbanks Terrace

Occasionally, people may wonder about people they see on a regular basis and wonder who they are beyond the everyday context in which they are observed. What do they do, where are they from, what is their life like? The stories are varied, but sometimes unexpected.

If you see the face above walking around Del Sur, say “Hi!” It belongs to the friendly, mild-mannered person of Ted Steege, property manager at Fairbanks Terrace. The property includes both one and two bedrooms. The complex has been further expanded by the newest apartment building just north of the original. An almost year-long construction project also involves 17 single family units across from Design 39 school. Ted calls the traffic “challenging” before the expansions and believes it will now likely be more so. Ted stays busy as he keeps up with move-ins, move-outs, maintenance requests, and the never-ending paperwork, which he refers to as “sometimes overwhelming.”

Ted found his way to San Diego after living in cities, such as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Prior to becoming a property manager, Ted worked in HR - a department in any company that requires a helpful and calm person, and an even hand.

“I enjoy interacting with people,” Ted said, citing one of the reasons he especially likes his job. In addition, the population at Fairbanks Terrace is a senior community, a good indicator that residents are a more low-key and an overall easy-to-work-with population.

Non-work hours might find Ted at one of his favorite restaurants - Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant or Piacere Mio. “I will run out to pick up for lunch or dinner.” He also enjoys taking a refreshing walk in this wonderfully scenic area, meeting friends downtown, or working out in a gym.

Ted has traveled a bit and found “Pompeii, Italy, a fascinating place.” He remembers his visit there to the museum that features glass-encased bodies captured in death throes when lava and other debris covered the town when Vesuvius erupted in 79AD.

Ted retains another memory of Italy and its the mountainous roads: “Buses were so wide it was amazing cars could squeeze between them and the mountain” – or the steep cliffs on the other side.

“I probably will never retire. I like what I’m doing, and I’m not sure what else I would do.”