Thomas Tenney Obituary

Thomas Asa Tenney CHARLESTON - Thomas Asa Tenney, internationally known Mark Twain scholar, passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 1, 2012. He was born on June 20, 1931 in New York City, the son of Asa Clifford Tenney and Eleanor Milton Tenney. Dr. Tenney received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina, his MA from Columbia University, and his PhD in English from University of Pennsylvania. Tom began his teaching career in science at Storm King School, Cornwall on Hudson, New York and Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown, New Jersey. Dr. Tenney taught English at Rutgers University - Camden, College of Charleston, Charleston Southern University, and The Citadel. For a short time he taught on naval vessels in the Mideast and Far East. Throughout Dr. Tenney's adult life, Mark Twain was a central character in his academic studies and dining room conversations. He published Mark Twain a Reference Guide with subsequent updates, continuing his work on Mark Twain bibliography throughout his life. He was coeditor of Satire and Evasion? Black Perspectives on Huckleberry Finn. Dr. Tenney also helped to launch The Mark Twain Circular. He took over the Mark Twain Journal in 1984. Through the Journal, he provided a forum for well known scholars and an opportunity for rising scholars to discuss all aspects of Mark Twain's life and works. Within the Mark Twain community Dr. Tenney was admired for the generous giving of his knowledge, time, and expertise. He encouraged Mark Twain scholarship whenever possible, helping well known scholars, emerging scholars, and anyone with an interest in Mark Twain. Dr. Tenney was honored at The Fifth International Mark Twain Conference on the State of Mark Twain Studies in 2005 at Elmira, New York. He was the first to receive the John Tuckey Award in recognition of lifetime achievements and contributions to Mark Twain studies and the Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies. He also was given The Mark Twain Circle of America Award for Service in recognition for outstanding service to the study of Mark Twain and his work. Tom is survived by his wife, Margaret Broughton Tenney, his brother, James Milton Tenney (Elizabeth) of Reno, NV and Mammoth, CA, three sons, Asa Robert of Chapel Hill, NC, Charles Reid of Fresno, CA, and William Shannon (Olga) of Jerez, Spain, and one grandchild, Guillermo Reid Tenney of Jerez, Spain. He is predeceased by his aunt, Emily Elizabeth Tenney, cofounder of Charleston Day School. The family will have a private gathering at a later date. They request that donations be sent to Center for Mark Twain Studies, Elmira College, One Park Place, Elmira, NY 14901. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/ deaths