In loving memory of Teresa Marie Pamfilis (1928-2026)

Teresa Marie Pamfilis (née Reiher, born June 13th, 1928) passed away on the morning of July 3rd, 2026 in her home and peacefully.

Nicknamed Terry, Little Mommy, LM, ‘My Sweet Little’ Grammy, to those who loved her, and Miss Terry to her many students throughout Baltimore; she was a creator, performer, mother, and teacher. A free thinker, she was wise and solution-oriented and curious and generous - illustrious qualities derived from a challenging life conquered. She was deeply kind. Equal parts radiant and rebel, she was the blueprint.

She was married to her husband, Manuel S. Pamfilis, for 61 years before he passed in 2018. Teresa was predeceased by her mother, Mary Margaret Mulcare; her siblings Eugene, Margaret, Lawrence, Joan, David, and Barbara; and her sweet little pug, Marmalade (a.k.a. Marley).

Teresa is survived by her sons, George Allen (companion Barbara), Stanley Pamfilis (Donna Jean), Steven Pamfilis, and Marc Pamfilis; her daughter, Anne Pamfilis; her beloved grandchildren Elizabeth Lewis (Kevin), Michael Pamfilis (Amanda), Christopher Pamfilis (companion Emilee), Madison Pamfilis (Andrew), Kirsten Pamfilis, and Matthew Pamfilis (companion Sophia); and her great-grandchildren, Olivia, Noah, Annalie, Connor, Nora, and Abigail. She raised some incredible people, who in turn, raised some incredible people, and her legacy spans far past her vast expectations and wildest imaginations. She was loved.

Born in Queens, New York, she discovered her love of dance at the age of two and performed on stages throughout New York, the Midwest, and Baltimore including the Famous Ballroom and the Chanticleer Club. She later began a career as a dance instructor that spanned more than 30 years, teaching at many local schools and in her Lutherville home studio, Dance Arts Studio.

She dedicated herself to teaching, to creating, to curiosity, to nurturing, to wit, to nature itself. She held the impossible together. The weight of her absence is the flip side of the coin we were gifted in getting to love her, to know her.

It is rare to find in a grandmother a best friend, a surrogate mother, a mentor, a collaborator (co-conspirator), a bruiser, a hero, a girlfriend. She has been the greatest supporter, most stalwart protector, most understanding advisor, and most loving friend.

We can only aspire to develop a percentage of her grace, optimism, resourcefulness, consistency, forgiveness, ineffability, and strength. For all that feels lost right now, let us be grateful that she has given us something to pursue: to make her proud and become a semblance of the person that she was.

I do not know which words to leave her with, because goodbye is not forever. For now, these will do:

‘I love you, I love you, I love you.’

Please share online condolences with the family by signing her guestbook through www.peacefulalternatives.com.