George Kenneth Tenopir, a beloved member of the Poet family, passed away suddenly on Sunday, September 21, 2014. He was 90 years old. Born in 1923 in Friend, Nebraska, Tenopir served with the Army in World War II before completing his studies at Whittier College where he met his wife Jane Longwell ‘47. Tenopir earned his undergraduate degree from Whittier College in 1948 and his graduate degree in 1949. He returned to the College in 1952 to work as an Admissions Counselor and then served as Dean of Admissions and Director of Financial Aid until his retirement in 1989. Tenopir recruited and helped thousands of students attend Whittier. He was one of the first west coast admissions directors to recruit widely in Hawaii, making his first recruiting trip there in 1959.
Tenopir touched many lives and is remembered for introducing Whittier College to students across the country, helping them find financial assistance, and often steering them to campus jobs to help make ends meet. In this spirit and with the hope of assisting future Poets, Tenopir’s daughter, Dr. Carol Tenopir ‘74, established the Tenopir K. Tenopir Scholarship in 2007.
With wisdom, compassion, and dedication, Tenopir shaped the history of Whittier College and proudly guarded its traditions and legacy. Whittier College President Sharon Herzberger remembers: “(Tenopir) was a College historian of sorts, and throughout my years at Whittier he would often stop by to give me an article that he had saved about Whittier, or to provide information about an accomplished alumnus/a, or to show me notebooks filled with details on College business.” Tenopir remained an enthusiastic supporter of Whittier College throughout his life, volunteering in the library, participating in the 11-9-5 Club and Purple & Gold, and attending many sporting and cultural events on campus. Tenopir instilled Poet Pride in his own family; his two daughters, a son-in-law, sister-in-law, grandson, and grandniece are Whittier graduates.
Tenopir is preceded in death by his wife Jane, who passed away in 2010. He leaves three children: Kathryn Tenopir Remkiewicz ’72 of Oakdale California, Dr. Carol Tenopir ’74 of Knoxville, Tennessee, and David Tenopir of Whittier, California; four grandchildren: Rebekah Remkiewicz of Oakdale, California, Ensign Matthew Remkiewicz ’02 of Portsmouth, Virginia, Andrew Tenopir Lundeen of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, and Emily Tenopir of Whittier; four great grandchildren: Connor and Kiera McCurdy and Katelyn and Jackson Remkiewicz; and many nieces and nephews.
Plans for a private memorial service are underway. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the Tenopir Family : c/o Dr. Carol Tenopir, 4764 Calumet Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919. The family requests donations to the Tenopir K. Tenopir Endowed Scholarship Fund be sent directly to Whittier College: P.O. Box 634, Whittier College, Whittier, CA 90608. https://www.whittier.edu/giving/givenow
