Politics & Government
Beloved City Treasurer Teddie Bidou Dead at 62
She served Benicia city managers and city councils for a quarter century.
A beloved figure at Benicia City Hall for close to 40 years is gone.
Benicia City Treasurer Margaret "Teddie" Bidou died Friday in a local hospital. She was 62.
Bidou was a member of St. Dominic's Church in Benicia, where a funeral Mass is scheduled at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21.
Find out what's happening in Beniciawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
She was elected City Treasurer in November 2007, five years after retiring from a 30-year career at City Hall. For a quarter century, she was executive secretary for Benicia city managers and mayors, a position of considerable responsibility.
"She had the ability to work for bosses who needed confidentiality," said Lee Syracuse, who met Bidou when he came to Benicia in the early 1970s and then became city planner. "She was also warm and fun to be around."
Find out what's happening in Beniciawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"She was efficient, and she was a good friend," said John Silva, who worked with Bidou as both city manager and a city councilman.
Bidou was born in San Francisco and came to Benicia to be secretary to the city Civil Service Commission after serving the same position in her hometown, Silva said, noting that Benicia was undergoing a change in staffing structure at the time.
Here, she met and married a member of the Police Department, Pierre Bidou, who would rise to become Police Chief and then serve on both the school board and city council.
The city council proclaimed Dec. 12, 2002 "Teddie Bidou Day" in honor of her retirement, but the electorate soon returned her to City Hall as treasurer.
Silva and his wife Janice became close friends with Bidous and said Monday they feel fortunate to have had the friendship. Silva recalled Bidou's reaction when both he and Janice lost siblings on consecutive days.
"It was a pretty tough time. Teddie was here all the time for us," said the retired county supervisor.
Syracuse recalled when Bidou approached City Treasurer Virginia Souza in 2007 about running for the post, prompting Souza to respond, "'I will be proud to have you take my place.' That shows how well thought of she was in the community."
Teddie Bidou is survived by her husband Pierre and family Bernedette Gutierrez, Matthew Bidou, Cecilia Beak, Chris Bidou, Mary Bartlett and Andrew Bidou; sister Pauline MacKenzie; 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. The family requests donations to the St. Dominic's Church St. Vincent de Paul Society.
