Mina Joan Tennyson

May 26, 1935 - August 25, 2018

Mina passed away peacefully at sundown with her family at her side, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. This cruel disease slowly robbed this lovely lady of her abilities, while leaving her alive to suffer the pain and anxieties of its ravages. She bore it bravely until the end.

Born in El Segundo, she attended UCLA, where she graduated with honors completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in three and a half years. Following graduation, she went with United Air Lines as a stewardess, and was domiciled in San Francisco where she met and married her husband, who was attending Dental School at the University of California Medical Center. Upon his graduation, he entered the U. S. Navy, serving three years, and after resigning his commission, the couple with their young son, settled in San Mateo, where her husband opened his practice of dentistry for children, in 1962.

Mina was many things to many people. Wife, mother, teacher for their family, maintaining the finances both for the home and office, while in her spare time dedicating herself to her church where she served as president of the League for Service as well as on the Vestry. She was president of the Dental Auxiliary, and was an active member of the Coyote Point Museum. A person for all seasons. When her two sons entered college, she joined her husband in his practice, performing magic with her smile and ebullient personality on staff and patients alike; she was so well liked Dental Hygienists who had left the practice having tired of working on children returned, once they found that Mina was now part of the staff. An amazing woman.

She was an avid sports fan and if a game was going on, she wanted to be there. As her older son was a member of the Cal Band, she and her husband, beginning in the ‘82 season (“The Play”), had season tickets to the football games at Berkeley for thirty years. The San Francisco Giants were also a favorite of hers.

Mina is survived by her husband of 59 years, Roger, and her two sons, John Peter, Scott William (Pamela), and her granddaughter, Shae.

A memorial service will be held at St. Mathews Episcopal Church in San Mateo at 4 pm on October 17th. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Mission Hospice and Home Care (attention Hospice House) in her name, is suggested. The family is extremely grateful for their care.