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In Memory

Hon. John Richard Tenney

In His Office in 2002	With grandson Trey's Jack Russel Terrier
Facts: 4 March 1930 Born in Ridgewood, NJ 5th of 9 children 1952: Graduated from Colgate University, B.A. in History 1955: Graduated from Cornell Law School with LLB (later awarded JSD) 1955-1957: Practiced law with Thomas F. Keane in Brooklyn, NY 1956: Married Cynthia Roberts from Hamilton, NY 1957-1958: Assistant Attorney General for the state of NY 1958-1961: Trial Lawyer for Lockwood and Vaughn in Utica, NY 1961: Joined Ferris, Kehoe, Cardamone and Tenney law firm in Utica NY 1962: Elected as Republican Oneida County Chairman 1963: Became Ferris, Kehoe, Tenney and Murnane 1964: Delegate to Republican National Convention in San Francisco 1968: Delegate to Republican National Convention in Miami 1968: Elected to NY State Supreme Court 1982: Re-elected to 2nd term 1996: Re-elected to 3rd term 1997: Suffered Aortic Infarction that put him in a wheel chair. 2003: September - retired from the Supreme Court 2003: September - Honored by Oneida County Bar Association, President Bush, Governor of NY and Mayor of Utica at honorary dinner - Utica, NY 9 April 2004 12:10 pm EDT: died from internal organ failures. Notes: Prior to retirement, Judge Tenney served as the senior trial justice in Oneida County Chairman of the Jury Board and Law Library Board Administrator of Mental Health Information Service; Associate Editor and Contributing Author, Judge’s Bench Book Author of many published and unpublished decisions in many diverse areas including such landmark cases as Committee of Raul Mora which defined the criteria for determination of death and removal of life support systems, Auer v. Dyson finding the Power Authority in violation of prior court order and directing refunds to affected municipalities, and Holden v. Chapman authorizing the State Psychiatric center to force feed Mark David Chapman (the assassin of John Lennon). He served as an Officer and Director of the Association of Supreme Court Judges and was President in 1993. He was a presiding member of the Council of Judicial Associations of the New York State Bar Association. He was Chairman of the Oneida County Republican Committee from 1962-1968. He was a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association (Member of the House of Delegates) and Oneida County Bar Association. He received the Award of Merit from the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the Merit Award from the New York School of Psychiatry. He served as an Officer and Director of the Mid-York Press from 1959-1968. He and his wife Cynthia purchased the Oneida-Madison Pennysaver, Inc. in 1964 and he served as President from 1964-1968. He served as a Director of the Norwich Publishing Co. He served as President and Chairman of the Board of Managers of Faxton Hospital from 1971-1986 and received their community service award. He served as an Officer and Director of the Otsego Sailing Club in Cooperstown, NY from 1963-1980. He served as an Officer and Director of the U.S. Highlander Association from 1970-1978 and was Editor-in-Chief of its publication The Highlander magazine. He was a member of the Yahnundasis Golf Club and served as President in 1985. He served as an Officer and Director of the Utica Curling Club. He was a member of the New York State Seniors Golf Association. He was a former member of New Hartford Kiwanis. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; five children; two sons and their spouses: John and Kathleen Tenney of Orlando, FL, Robert and Rosemarie Tenney of Sherburne, NY, three daughters, Claudia Tenney of New Hartford; Jane and her husband Will Lewis of Vail, Colorado and Julia Tenney of Somerville, MA; eight grandchildren, Wayne (Trey) Cleary, III, Kyle Tenney, Anastasia Tenney, Marianne Tenney, Grace Tenney, Jack Lewis, Laura Tenney and a step-grandson, Cameron Lewis; five brothers and one sister, George Tenney and his wife Lucille of Glendale, CA, Elanor Winder of Ridgewood, NY, James Tenney of Little Egg Harbor, NJ, Alan Tenney of Teaneck, NJ, Harry Tenney and his wife Chica of Charlottesville, VA and Carl Tenney and his wife Joan of Columbia, SC; a half-sister Gail Tenney from NY, NY many nieces and nephews, including two special nieces and their husbands, Deborah and Mark Gill, Doreen and Michael Friedel all of Rochester. He was predeceased by two brothers and a sister-in-law, William Tenney from Groton, NY and Donald and Dale Tenney from Whitesboro, NY. Dad, you will always be My Hero.
Testimonial Dinner in Sept. 2003	Most senior NY Justice upon retirement