83, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on Thursday, September 18, 2014. Mr. Tenaglia was born September 29, 1930 in Otter River, Massachusetts to Ignazio (John) and Maria (Mary) Tenaglia. He graduated from Templeton High School in Baldwinville, Massachusetts (1948); St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont (1952); and Western Michigan College of Education (1955) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He taught at Berrien Springs High School in Berrien Springs, Michigan from 1954-1955, and moved to Arizona in 1955. Mr. Tenaglia taught at Morenci, Arizona for one year before transferring to Phoenix, where he taught 8th grade Social Studies and Government in the Madison School District for 31 years.
Mr. Tenaglia was involved in the Arizona Italian-American Club. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus, and involved with the Phoenix Suns Booster Club in the 1960’s and 1970’s where he served as Membership Chair. According to his family, Mr. Tenaglia enjoyed golf and spent countless hours in servant leadership for those he loved. Mr. Tenaglia’s servant leadership philosophy in life is best described by Robert Greenleaf (https://greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership) where care is taken by the servant-first leader to ensure that other individuals’ highest priority needs are being served. Mr. Tenaglia focused primarily on the well-being and growth of people he loved and the communities to which he belonged. He put the needs of others first and helped them develop and perform as highly as possible.
Mr. Tenaglia was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Delia Pruhs. He is survived by long-time companion Reba Horton of Phoenix, Arizona; sister Kay LeBlanc of Natick, Massachusetts; sister MaryJane Johnson and brother-in-law Gus of Champaign, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Mass will be held Friday, September 26, 2014 at 10:30 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2312 E. Campbell Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona. Interment will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 2033 N. 48th Street (entrance on 48th Street) at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to send donations in memory of Nicholas Tenaglia to Saint Michael’s College, SMC Box 256, One Winooski Park, Colchester, VT 05439.
sandra lipski (wauneka)
Prayers to the family! I was a student of his at Madison #2 in Phoenix back in the early 80’s? Great teacher! : )my condolences
Michele Rogers
December 19, 2015
My Christmas Card to Nick was returned today. I knew him for many years when I lived in the neighborhood as he was the manager of our townhome complex. He was a man of honor and integrity who would help out everyone. He really was a great guy. I had stopped by his townhouse when I was in town 2 month ago and thought he had moved because of the condition it was in. He was such a meticulous man, everything at his home was always kept perfect. Nick you are missed.. My Sincerest Condolences to his family. Michele Allen Rogers