Dennis Tinerino

Tinerino, Dennis
December 23, 1945 - May 7, 2010

FOUR-TIME MR. UNIVERSE AND MR. AMERICA BODYBUILDING CHAMPION

Dennis Tinerino, a four-time Mr. Universe, Mr. America, and Hall of Fame Bodybuilder who went on to become a Christian evangelist with a worldwide ministry, has died. He was 64.

Tinerino died Friday morning May 7 at Northridge Community Hospital in Northridge, California after an 18-month battle with stomach cancer.

Dennis Tinerino was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York on December 23, 1945, the second son of third-generation Italian-American parents. His family moved to Brownsville, Brooklyn when Dennis was eight years old. His father Carmine was a dockworker and Golden Gloves boxer who took Dennis to his first workouts at the Brooklyn Central YMCA when Dennis was 12 years old.

The legendary bodybuilder won his first title as Mr. Brooklyn in 1964. He followed that up with 11 additional titles, including Mr. New York City, and Mr. America in 1967. After winning Mr. America, he competed in the 1967 Mr. Universe, finishing in second place to an up and coming Arnold Schwarzenegger. He came back to win the NABBA Mr. Universe title in England in 1968. Three more Mr. Universe titles followed in 1975, 1980 and 1981. Tinerino also won the title of Pro Mr. Natural America in 1978.

A regular competitor in the Mr. Olympia contests from 1977 through 1982, his highest finish was second in the heavyweight division in 1979. Throughout his career, Tinerino graced the cover of dozens of bodybuilding and fitness magazines, including Muscle & Fitness, Muscular Development, Iron Man, and Strength & Health. He was also featured in many fitness and training ads, and authored his own weight training manuals.

Tinerino was mentored by bodybuilding legends Bill Pearl and Joe Abbenda. He competed against some of the top name bodybuilders in the golden age of the sport, including Reg Park, Dave Draper, Sergio Oliva, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Franco Columbu and Frank Zane. Best known for his doorwide shoulders and washboard abs, ?Dennis was one of the best bodybuilders of his era. His blend of size and shape was a classic combination that took him to Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe? according to Joe Weider, the ?Father of Bodybuilding? and founder of the IFBB (International Federation of Body Building.)

Among other career accomplishments, Tinerino was named to several Halls of Fame, including the AAU Hall of Fame, the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, the Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen Hall of Fame, the National Fitness Hall of Fame, and in 2006, the IFBB Body Building Hall of Fame.

In 1970 Dennis met and married the love of his life, Anita Conti and together they appeared on the December 1971 cover of Strength & Health Magazine. They moved from Queens, New York to California in 1974 and had three children, Tara, Marissa and Dennis-John.

A SAG actor, Tinerino had several roles in TV commercials and movies, including ?Hercules in New York,? with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

After undergoing a spiritual conversion in 1979, Dennis became an ordained Christian minister and founded Dennis Tinerino Ministries. He traveled the world and preached in dozens of countries including England, Italy, Greece, Japan and Australia, as well as throughout the United States.

He was associated with such well-known evangelists as Dr. Jerry Savelle, Pastor Ray McCauley, and Rodney Howard-Browne. Dennis often humorously referred to himself as ?The Sermonator? a reference to his long time rival and friend, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was known as ?The Terminator? and most recently ?The Governator.?

Tinerino?s life and spiritual journey are documented in his autobiography, ?Super Size Your Faith,? which was published in 2006.

Along the way Tinerino?s testimony and preaching touched millions of lives around the world. He was loved and respected throughout the Christian community. A big man with a big heart, he was known for his larger-than-life, joyous and fun personality.

Tinerino is survived by his wife Anita, two daughters, Tara and Marissa, son Dennis-John, son-in-law Eli Flora, parents Carmine and Mary, brothers Salvatore and Laurence, nieces Andrea Tinerino McMahon and Ilona Tinerino-Allen, and nephews Vincent and Jared.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday May 12th at Church on the Way, 14300 Sherman Way in Van Nuys, California, East Campus at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be sent to a memorial fund at www.tinerino.com.


Photo: Dennis with Arnold Schwarzenegger in London for the Mr. Universe competition, 1968