This month, Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors is pleased The Cao Family Happy Hearts at Home to introduce you to The Cao Family: Tim, Rebekah, Audrey, Jeremy, Quincy, Wriley and Xavery. With five children spanning from infancy to high school, a cat with a fondness for french fries and a steady flow of neighbors, friends and family, their home reflects a life built on lots of love and care for others. For the Caos, Newtown Square is not just a place to live. It is home in the deepest sense of the word.
Tim Cao’s story begins just a few miles away. He grew up in Lawrence Park after his family moved from Overbrook Park when he was in seventh grade. A graduate of the Marple Newtown High School (MNHS) Class of 2005, Tim spent much of his youth on basketball courts across the area. Loomis Elementary’s outdoor courts were a favorite, but he could also be found playing at New Ardmore Park, Gable, Worrall, the Main Line YMCA or the Springfield Healthplex. Basketball followed Tim to Temple University, where he graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.
After college, Tim worked in accounting and auditing for the City of Philadelphia’s Revenue Department, the Controller’s Office and then for a few private CPA firms. Though he enjoyed accounting, he said he wasn’t built to be in an office. He decided to enter the trades, earning an additional degree in HVAC from Delaware County Community College. “With more than a decade in various trades, I’ve discovered that the technical challenges of heating and cooling systems suited both my analytical mind and my desire to help people,” Tim said. Today, he is the owner and operator of Trustwell Heating & Cooling, a business he is intentionally growing to serve the community with integrity. “What’s happening now in the industry is you have a handful of private equity firms owning all the big brands you see around town,” Tim explained. He added that on the other end, many solo owner operators can’t offer some of the perks that consumers are looking for that the large corporations can. “My goal is to build Trustwell Heating & Cooling to bridge that gap by offering the same, if not better service and perks while always keeping our promise: Certified Technicians, Never Salespeople.”
Tim takes pride in diagnosing and troubleshooting systems and in offering honest solutions. One recent call from a homeowner whose heat was out reinforced his purpose. “Another company had tried to sell this homeowner a full system replacement that she did not need,” recalled Tim. “But our straightforward approach and repair saved her money and restored her comfort, and the relief on her face reminded me why I started this business in the first place.”
Rebekah’s path to Newtown Square began in Ardmore, where she grew up before moving to the area with her parents in 2003. She attended Delaware County Christian School for both grade school and high school, graduating in 2009. A gifted musician and mathematician, Rebekah sang alto and soprano in the concert choir and served as a peer math tutor to fulfill National Honor Society service hours.
Her academic journey is impressive and wide-ranging. She earned an Associate of Science in Natural Science from Delaware County Community College in 2011, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Music Performance from Widener University in 2013. Her achievements include multiple honor societies, academic awards and recognition for her ability to bridge science and the humanities. “I went on to earn a Master of Science in Mathematics Learning and Teaching from Drexel University in 2017 and later completed my Doctor of Education in Education Leadership and Management in 2020,” Rebekah said. “My dissertation focused on the experiences of non-traditional students in developmental mathematics, a subject that aligns closely with my professional passion.”
For the past 15 years, Rebekah has worked in developmental math education, helping students who once believed math was impossible, to understand, find confidence and succeed. She finds deep satisfaction in watching that transformation take place. Her long-term goal is to become a college mathematics professor. Outside of work, Rebekah’s love of music remains central to her life. She plays piano, organ, guitar and recorder, sings regularly and serves as the church organist at Grace Reformed Episcopal Church in Collingdale.
Tim and Rebekah first met online through the Bumble dating app. Their story included a brief pause when Rebekah initially ghosted Tim, only for them to reconnect a few months later. Their f irst date took place in August 2019 at Thai Aroy Dee in Drexel Hill, and both left the evening telling friends it was the best first date they had ever been on. Early in 2020, they found themselves quarantined together for two weeks due to a Covid exposure. That unexpected time together confirmed their compatibility, and they decided to get married later that year.
They were married in a self-union ceremony at the end of 2020, followed by a small church wedding in early 2021 at Transfiguration Anglican Church in Phoenixville, which was live-streamed for loved ones. Between being in the midst of a pandemic and learning on Valentine’s Day 2021 that Rebekah was pregnant, a traditional honeymoon was postponed. In January 2023, they finally traveled to Barcelona together, a trip they now lovingly count as their honeymoon.
The Cao’s began their married life in Broomall before purchasing their Newtown Square home in May 2021. They settled in the Hunters Run neighborhood, drawn by its quiet streets, abundant trees and proximity to family. Rebekah’s parents conveniently live in the same neighborhood and Tim’s parents and his brother’s family still live in Lawrence Park, making daily life richly surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins!
Tim and Rebekah’s children bring energy and individuality to every corner of the home. Audrey, 16, is a junior at MNHS with a spirited, extroverted personality. Active in Best Buddies, Mini THON, Unforgotten Haven and the annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, she balances service with social life. Audrey also works at Wesley Assisted Living Facility and participates in the pickleball club. Since earning her driver’s license, she loves the independence of being on the go with friends and is already dreaming of a future career in real estate.
Jeremy, 15, also attends MNHS and shares his father’s love of basketball and weightlifting. In recent years, he has developed a passion for cooking. Jeremy enjoys taking familiar comfort foods and elevating them with creativity and care. His grilled cheese has earned rave reviews, and he recently experimented with guanciale, an Italian cured meat from pork cheek known for its rich flavor, to create a new pasta dish. Food has become both an art and a joy for him, hinting at a future in the culinary arts.
Four-year-old Quincy attends Child Steps in Havertown and is known for his outgoing nature and adventurous spirit. He loves monster trucks, video games and fixing things around the house. Quincy is rarely shy and eagerly inserts himself into activities with his older siblings and their friends, always wanting to be part of the action. When asked about his future, he confidently declares that he wants to be a doctor.
Before we introduce you to the two youngest members of the Cao family, we need to know if you’ve picked up on any similarities here. Tim will explain: “After naming Quincy, we realized all the kids’ names were in alphabetical order, all first names ended in the letter Y, all first names had six letters and all middle names had four letters. Rebekah’s moderate OCD picked up on it, and being that I call her a ‘mathemagician,’ and considering my background in accounting, we had to keep the pattern going!”
Enter two-year-old Wriley, who also attends Child Steps and brings a quieter presence to the family. Introverted and sweet, he loves books, music, drawing and coloring. One family story perfectly captures his personality. “Wriley does not like to leave the house without a hat,” Rebekah explained. “As Tim was backing out of the driveway one day, Wriley began screaming from his car seat, Hat! Hat! Hat!. Tim turned the car around, went back into the house and got Wriley a hat. Then they were allowed to leave!”
The youngest member of the family, Xavery, is just four months old. His days are filled with smiling, attempting to roll over and soaking in the attention of siblings who adore him. Though his personality is still emerging, he has already completed the family circle in a way that feels just right.
Adding to the household is Stoli, a 14-year-old Sphynx cat with a memorable appearance and even more memorable habits. White with one blue eye and one green eye, Stoli was once a breeding queen in New Jersey before retiring and joining Rebekah’s life more than a decade ago. She is quirky, loving and especially fond of McDonald’s fries.
Community life is important to the Caos. They worship together at Grace Reformed Episcopal Church and participate annually in the Amnion Pregnancy Care Medical Center 5K walk at Ridley Creek State Park to raise funds and awareness. Beginning in 2026, Tim plans to extend Trustwell Heating & Cooling’s impact by giving away a full HVAC system replacement to a local Delaware County family in need, with submissions opening in the fall.
In their free time, Tim and Rebekah are intentional about connection. Tim schedules weekly date nights, rotating between Rebekah and the older children, using food and conversation as a way to strengthen relationships. He begins each morning with weightlifting and running, loves learning languages, and currently speaks English, Cantonese, Hakka, Mandarin and Spanish, with Japanese underway. An avid reader of nonfiction and a seasoned traveler, Tim has visited 29 countries and 20 states. Rebekah enjoys music and film, especially horror, sci-fi and dystopian genres, and dreams of repairing an old autoharp, waiting for her in the basement, that she purchased from eBay a few years ago.
Travel is a shared family value. Whether visiting China to see relatives, exploring Italy and Japan, cruising to the Bahamas or discovering new destinations together, the Caos aim to experience a new country each year. These trips reinforce their family motto, a simple but powerful perspective on life. Life is short, so we should be good to each other, work together and make our time here good both for ourselves and others.
In the Cao’s household and their neighborhood, that philosophy plays out daily. The children wave to neighbors and greet passing dogs, while Rebekah feeds a group of crows who now wait outside each morning, calling for her attention. Surrounded by nature, family and a supportive community, the Cao family has found a place where their busy, meaningful life can continue to grow.