Bruce Joel Tennyson, age 83, passed away on August 12, 2021 at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee after a brief battle with lymphoma.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Diann Suddeth Tennyson, his daughter Jennifer Ottinger, grandchildren Tennyson Grace Ottinger, and Tucker Reid Ottinger, and son-in-law-Talbott Patrick Ottinger. Bruce is also survived by his twin brother Gary Lee Tennyson, brother Patrick Thomas Tennyson, sister Kimberly Tennyson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and sister Margaret Tennyson Rivera (Jorge) of Roanoke, Virginia, and nephew Dr. Jorge Rivera of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Bruce was born on May 2, 1938, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to William John Tennyson and Margaret Wilson Bruce. At the age of 12, he was the catcher on the first Little League team in Allegheny County, PA. He was an active sports fan and participant, loved the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, and played all sports throughout his life. Bruce loved nothing more than spending time with his family and playing ball with his grandchildren who lovingly called him “Daddy Bear”.
Bruce loved the game of baseball and as a young man, he became a professional baseball umpire working with several minor league teams. While umpiring in the Florida State League he met his wife, Diann, in Daytona Beach Florida ultimately leaving baseball and moving to Nashville to start his career. He was the owner and president of Tennyson Business Machines in Nashville retiring in 2005. Bruce was an avid golfer and was a member of Richland Country Club and Naples Grande Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
A family graveside service will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park on Saturday, August 21st, and the family will receive friends at a Celebration of Life at Richland Country Club from 4-6 pm afterward. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial donations be made to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203. The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers of Alive Hospice who provided kind and compassionate support.
