Thadeus E. Tencza Sr.

Ted was born on March 28, 1941 in Brooklyn, NY to his parents, Joseph John and Sophia Tencza (née Wieczkiewicz). He attended St. John Kanty High School in Erie, PA, earned his Bachelor of Business from Golden State University, and completed his MBA at Webster University. He married Mary Ann Praet in 1965. Wanting to take Mary to live in Germany, he re-enlisted in the United States Air Force. After 14 years climbing the enlisted ranks, Ted graduated from Officer’s Training School in 1975. He medically retired from active duty with the rank of Major in 1989 and quickly began his career doing to exact same job as a civilian contractor, thus serving for 42 years. His children learned later in life that he also raced stock cars and demolition derby, was a volunteer fire fighter, and played semi-pro football.

Travel, fishing, and the New York Giants were Ted’s passions, and he was known throughout the world for his coffee consumption, cheesy lasagna, and homemade NY cheesecakes. He loved living in Germany and considers Munich one of his favorite cities. He was truly a world traveler: kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland, accidentally taking a train that had stops in East Berlin, going to Russia with friends, and fighting tigers with a broom in Thailand. Ted and Mary would fly to New York to see family and a Broadway play, or so that Ted could spend the weekend with his beloved cousin - also Ted - going to a Giants game or trying their hand at deep-sea fishing. Ted and Mary frequently visited Disney World to ride his favorite ride, The Tower of Terror, celebrating many an anniversary in this manner. When Ted, Jr and his family moved to Sydney, Australia, Ted happily went with Mary to explore the Land Down Under while visiting their much-loved grandchildren. They climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, saw the penguins at Philip Island in Melbourne, and viewed the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.

Ted is survived by his children, Michele M. Tencza, Thadeus E. Tencza, Jr. and his wife, Cecelia, and Edward A. Tencza and his wife, Denise Dudley; his grandchildren, Thadeus E. Tencza III, Connor Tencza, Tessia Tencza, and Matthew Dudley; his sister, Deborah Doscher; and a plethora of nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Tencza, his mother, Sophia Tencza, his brothers Richard Tencza and Joseph Tencza, and his beloved wife of 52 years, Mary Ann Tencza. Ted will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

There will be a viewing on Monday, October 14, 2024 at the Sunset Northwest Funeral Home from 6-8 in the evening. Ted’s remembrance ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 12:30 at the Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, followed by the internment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:00 in the afternoon. There will be a Celebration of Life following the funeral services.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fisher House Foundation or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital