Raymond C. Teatum, the former chief of staff to the late City Council leader Thomas Cuite, is receiving the Thomas Cuite Memorial Award.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Teatum grew up in Park Slope, where he attended St. Francis Xavier Church, Park Slope. He attended Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan, and St. John’s University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. He attended Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Conn., 1961-62, and completed post-graduate studies at St. John’s University and Fordham University.

His public service career began as a staff member for Congressman Hugh L. Carey. While working for the congressman, he became a member of the N.Y.S. Legislature’s Joint Legislative Committee for Child Caring Needs.

He served as executive director of the Sunset Park Community Corporation, a community development agency funded by the federal government’s Council Against Poverty. During this period, he also worked as a consultant on a development project for South Shore Hospital.

In 1973, he began working for the New York City Council, where he spent 13 years, first as legislative coordinator and then as executive assistant to the speaker of the City Council.

He ultimately became the first deputy city clerk of New York, having been appointed to the City Council for three six-year terms, and was the acting city clerk for the City of New York. He ended his 16-year career in that office, retiring in 2002.

He has served as grand knight for the Knights of Columbus, La Salle Council, president of the Brooklyn Catholic Interracial Council, president of the St. Patrick’s Society of Brooklyn and president of the Emerald Association of Long Island.

He has been a loyal member of the Knights of Malta for over 35 years, including service as a Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Eastern Lieutenancy.

He also serves on the boards of the Catholic Home Bureau, St. Clare’s Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital Foundation.

He is married to Mary Buckley Teatum who was a principal for the N.Y.C. Board of Education and was an adjunct professor at St. Joseph’s College, Clinton Hill.