Eugene Thomas Tinelli

On February 4, 2026 Eugene Thomas Tinelli died at home after struggling to regain his health from surgery. Gene was a rock for our family. He was steady and reliable and always there when we needed him…..except if there was a Syracuse University basketball, football or lacrosse game. Then he wanted nothing more than to be at The Dome enjoying his favorite team. He bought season tickets before he had a place to live. He is survived by his wife, Irene Workman, his kids and their spouses, Corey (Gina Terzini), Cari (Charles Poag) and his children from his first marriage, Daniel Green and Elaine James. He also loved his four grandchildren Aidan, Benjamin, Avery and Rowan.
Aside from his love of SU sports, he and Irene were avid scuba divers, traveling the world to find the best locations, enjoying different cultures, historical sites, and cuisines. Gene's favorite activity was expanding his mind by reading. Whether it was to improve his work performance or to learn more about history, he always had a book or journal close by. However, his love of music may have best defined him. Classical, opera, rock, reggae, but most of all the Grateful Dead. He would travel the east coast to attend Dead concerts and make it back home by morning. He was no Fred Astaire, but would always dance like no one was watching.
He was funny without trying to be, he was smart and worked at it everyday, he was hardworking up to his last moment. He was loved and will be as long as those who remember him exist.
Gene was born in the Bronx on June 13,1943 to Mary (Malloy) Tinelli and Leo Tinelli. He attended Syracuse University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY Upstate Medical University and Salve Regina College in Rhode Island. He obtained two Masters degrees, a PhD and an MD. He joined the US Navy after medical school which is where he and Irene met. They were stationed in VA, Guam and RI before he resigned his commission in order to return to the place he called home, Syracuse. In Guam he received an Honorary Chomorro Award for his work in setting up and training staff in Guam's first Rape Crisis Center. He worked for many years at Hutchings before he landed at the VAMC. His passion was in the work he did with veterans, extending his skills by using EMDR and learning acupuncture among other things. He was honored to receive an award from a local veterans group for his commitment to veterans. Finally, he was a strong advocate for causes that he firmly believed in. These included physician aid in dying and the medical and recreational use of marijuana.
A celebration of his life is being planned for a later date and we look forward to hearing your stories about this remarkable man.
Grateful Dead: "A box of rain will ease the pain and love will see you through."
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