EDSON L. TENNYSON

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EDSON TENNYSON Obituary

EDSON LEIGH TENNYSON (Age 92)
Edson L. Tennyson, professional engineer and public transit expert, died July 14, 2014 at home in Vienna, Virginia. Ed was born in Orange, NJ on July 6, 1922 to Jane Virginia (Leigh) and William Edwin Tennyson. He graduated from West Orange High School in 1940 and attended Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, PA (now Carnegie-Mellon University) on a Westinghouse Memorial Scholarship. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and on July 15, 1944, he married Shirley Lou Forward of Pittsburgh. They lived in the New York area for the rest of World War II, where Ed served as a Transportation Corps Officer and Shirley worked for Westinghouse on the Manhattan Project. After the war they returned to Pittsburgh to finish college. After Ed completed two management engineering degrees, he began his career at Pittsburgh Railways and then Milwaukee Rapid Transit. In 1951, he was appointed City Transit Commissioner for Youngstown, Ohio. He served there until 1956, when he became the Deputy Commissioner of Transportation in Philadelphia, PA. In 1972, Governor Shapp of Pennsylvania appointed him Deputy Secretary of Transportation. When his term expired in 1979 he consulted with San Diego Trolley, Inc. to begin operations there, and with other transit entities. In 1983, he was appointed Public Works Planning Coordinator for Arlington County to complete the Metro Orange Line to Vienna, VA, retiring in 1992. More recently, he has served on the Fairfax County Transportation Advisory Commission, and as an emeritus member of the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council. He leaves his wife of 70 years, Shirley; daughters, Lynn Tennyson (Peter Day) of Colorado, Connie McCarthy (Jim) of California and Marjorie Tennyson of Montana. He is also survived by his brother, Walter of Florida and by three grandchildren, Nancy and Thomas Day and Nathaniel Podgajny. Services are at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 22 at Vienna Presbyterian Church, Vienna, VA. Interment will be in a family plot in the cemetery at Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, Liberty Corner, NJ. Online condolences may be made at: www.moneyandking.com

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Published by The Washington Post on Jul. 20, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for EDSON TENNYSON

Sponsored by The Tennyson Family.

9 Entries

Bob Reuter

February 7, 2024

as a younger transit engineer I came to know Ed later in life. sometimes it felt like sitting at the feet of a great and wise teacher. we occasionally had dinner and I think I may have saved most if not all of our many e-mails. I learned much from him over the years and hope I can pass on even a small part of his knowledge.
I was going to write immediately after his death, (we actually were planning a get together at the time) but always felt my words were inadequate to express my feelings.
late and he wouldn't accept the trolley being this late but many memories and good wishes to his family and friends. may we all leave a mark on this earth even a small fraction of Ed,s

Bob Reuter

Jeffrey Marinoff

July 14, 2022

Ed was a dear friend for many decades and I miss him. We shared many of the same thoughts and ideas regarding electric public transportation. His passing was a great loss to all. May he truly rest in peace..........

The Good Book says, "There are many mansions in thy Father's House and I am going there to prepare one for you." I'm certain He had a trolley, trackless trolley, subway car and an electric multiple unit car waiting for Ed.

Rest in peace and wait for me, Ed......I look forward to meeting you again in Trolley Heaven........and spending eternity with you.

Lanette Perkins

July 14, 2020

My deepest sympathy to you and your family. Sending prayers and hugs.

Family Christmas in Colorado 2012

Marjorie Tennyson

August 17, 2014

Thank you ELT for showing us how to live and love a life, regardless of the opponents and obstacles that were placed (or positioned) in your way. Keeping your eye on the prize regardless of the political might of the oil and auto industry was amazing. Knowing you for 61 plus years, my admiration of your efforts professionally, at home, and within your faith community are beyond compare.

Marjorie Tennyson

August 17, 2014

I remember coming to the bus stop with an umbrella for you before I was in school. You took me on many train and transit trips which I loved. Mostly, I will miss discussing politics and rail policy with you every Sunday night as we have for the last 12 years. I'll miss you Daddy!

David Phelps

July 21, 2014

My condolences to the family. I was privileged to know and work with Ed on several transit projects over the years. He was always a consummate professional and true gentleman.

David Sadowski

July 21, 2014

To the Family of Ed Tennyson, we at the Central Electric Railfans' Association wish to express our deepest sympathies upon learning about the passing of Ed on July 14th. Ed was a loyal member of CERA since he joined our organization on December 11, 1944, and was one of our longest participating members. Ed had a special place in the hearts of our members, because throughout his life he dedicated his efforts to the preservation and development of electric transit everywhere. As an outspoken advocate of the modern streetcar in American cities, Ed lead the way by promoting the development of new streetcar systems wherever he could. For that we will always hold a debt of gratitude. Words cannot express our sense of appreciation to Ed for his lifelong vigorous support of rail transportation.

Sincerely,

The CERA Board of Directors

How Ed looked when I first met him

Jeffrey Marinoff

July 21, 2014

Shirley,

My most sincere condolences and sympathy on Ed's passing. Please also extend my condolences to your daughters. I knew this day would come, but I wasn't prepared for it just yet. I will truly miss Ed.

Ed was a renowned transit engineer and consultant. His long career in the transit industry included him being Philadelphia Transportation Commissioner for several years. That's when I first met Ed, almost fifty years ago. Ed was an electric transit promoter and advocate and we hit it off immediately. You could say we spoke the same language. We developed a life-long friendship that sadly ended with his passing.

The Good Book says, "There are many mansions in thy Father's House and I am going there to prepare one for you." I hope He has a trolley, trackless trolley, subway car and an electric multiple unit car waiting for Ed.

Rest in peace Ed......we'll meet again some day in Trolley Heaven........

Jeff Marinoff

Avrom David Shtern

July 20, 2014

My deepest condolences.

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