George Tennian

George W. Tennian George W. Tennian, 73, of Melbourne, Florida passed away on December 31 at William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, Florida after facing pancreatic cancer with strength and dignity. Son of the late George and Mary (Kennedy) Tennian, George was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and lived in Massachusetts and Rhode Island until his retirement in 2000. He is survived by his wife Phyllis (Cotton), daughters Robin Provonsil and her husband Cliff and Helene Holdgate and her husband Russ, grandson Mathew Provonsil, granddaughters Holly and Erin Holdgate and sister Patricia Mills and her husband Arthur. George worked as a meatcutter for Almacs Supermarkets in Rhode Island until 1973, when he became a Business Representative for the Meatcutters and Food Store Workers Union, which later became the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 328, based in Providence and serving Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut and southeastern Massachusetts. George was subsequently elected Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Secretary Treasurer and, in 1994 was elected President, a position he held until his retirement. In 1995, George established the Local 328 Golf Tournament to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since its inception, the Tournament has raised over $1 million dollars for the charity. George was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Safety Council, a Trustee in the UFCW and Employers Interstate, Health and Welfare Fund, a Trustee of the UFCW and Employers New England Pension Fund, and a Trustee of the UFCW International Union Industry Pension Fund. He was First Vice-President of the Providence Central Federated Labor Council, a member of the Executive Board and Executive Committee of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, a Vice-President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and a Vice-President of the New England Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers. He served on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Southeastern New England and was also a member of the Providence Civic Center Authority. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community on Stadium Parkway in Viera. Please consider making a donation to the William Childs Hospice House, 381 Medplex Pkwy NE, Palm Bay, Florida 32907.