Brunswick, ME, September 30, 2025
News Summary
Peter E. Tenney, a dedicated educator and history enthusiast, passed away after a long illness, leaving behind a legacy of impactful teaching and love for history. Known for his trademark bow tie, Tenney guided students with patience and creativity throughout his teaching career, culminating in his post-retirement role as a docent. Even amidst health challenges, he cherished family and the sport he loved, golf. His life was celebrated through the enduring memories he created in the hearts of his students, friends, and family.
Brunswick, ME — Peter E. Tenney: A Beloved Educator Who Played the Long Game
By a golf-loving obituarist who knows the fairways and the classroom
This one reads like a big, slow par 3 — honest, respectful, and with a little flourish. Peter E. Tenney died on September 16, 2025, following a long illness. He leaves behind a trail of students, friends, and family who will remember him for smart lessons, the occasional winning putt in a family tournament, and that ever-present bow tie that became his trademark.
He was born in Boston, MA, on April 30, 1948. Peter grew up in Milton, MA, spending summers in Castine, ME. He sharpened his mind at the University of Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1971 with a degree in English. If classrooms were greens, Peter read them as a player reads the grass — calm, observant, and always setting up the next move.
Peter began his teaching career at the Moses Brown School in Providence, RI, from 1976 to 1993. That stretch was his early tour — steady, reliable, respected. Then he took on a new course and later taught diverse global history at Crossroads Academy in Lyme, NH, from 1994 to 2017. Over those years he developed a reputation as a thoughtful and creative teacher, skilled in effective pedagogy. His students learned to think globally, and to approach complex history the way a pro studies a tricky green: with patience and creativity.
When the regular season ended, he wasn’t done leaving marks on the course. After his retirement in 2017, Crossroads Academy honored him with a monthly “Tenney Tie Day” in recognition of his bow tie habit. That lasting nod is the kind of clubhouse legend golfers and teachers both savor — small, enduring, and full of personality.
Love and life mixed into the next chapters. In 2002, Peter met Alexandra (Alix) Howell, a researcher at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT; they married in 2004. After retiring, they moved to Brunswick, ME, to be closer to his beloved hometown of Castine. He found a new patch of fairway to steward and Peter became a docent at the nearby Joshua Chamberlain Museum, continuing his passion for teaching history.
Even as his health declined, he stayed determined to enjoy retirement on his own terms. He remained determined to enjoy retirement despite his illness, participating in family activities such as golf tournaments and reunions with friends in Castine shortly before his passing. That mix of grit and good humor — finding a way to make the back nine a joy — is what friends will remember most.
Peter is survived by a close and wide family bench. Peter is survived by his wife of 21 years, Alexandra Howell, and her three children: Cameron (Christy), Nathan (Rebecca, and grandson Bryson), and Caroline (Tim). He is also survived by his brothers: David (Catherine), Donald (Marty), and Bradford (Laurie), along with his brothers-in-law Nicholas Levintow, Christopher Levintow, and Anthony Levintow. Peter had nieces Sarah Stammen (Jeff), Leah Keating (Eamon), Lauren Flewelling, and several great-nephews and nieces: Alden Stammen, Miles Keating, Haddie Keating, Seraphina Flewelling, and Aurora Flewelling.
The immediate plan for final arrangements keeps the family circle close. There will be a private interment in Castine this fall, with a celebration of Peter’s life scheduled for late July 2026 in Castine, ME. For friends who want to honor his love of local history, Donations in Peter’s memory to support the Joshua Chamberlain Museum can be made to the Pejepscot History Center, located at 159 Park Row, Brunswick, ME 04011.
Why golfers and old-school teachers nod to his legacy
Peter’s life reads like a match-play contest where the measure is steady contribution, not flash. He coached young minds with the same patience a good coach shows on the range. He loved the ritual of a bow tie the way golfers love ritual — a putting routine that steadies the hand and the heart. His work at the museum was pure post-retirement bunker play: calm, deliberate, and deeply fulfilling.
If you’re a golfer, you’ll appreciate how he stayed in the game late; if you’re a teacher, you’ll appreciate his pedagogy. Either way, this was a life that closed with friends and family around the 18th green, reminiscing and smiling about the rounds they shared.
FAQ
- When did Peter E. Tenney die?
- Peter E. Tenney died on September 16, 2025, following a long illness.
- Where was he born?
- He was born in Boston, MA, on April 30, 1948.
- Where did he grow up and spend summers?
- Peter grew up in Milton, MA, spending summers in Castine, ME.
- What did he study and where?
- He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1971 with a degree in English.
- Where did he teach?
- Peter began his teaching career at the Moses Brown School in Providence, RI, from 1976 to 1993. He later taught diverse global history at Crossroads Academy in Lyme, NH, from 1994 to 2017.
- Was he honored after retirement?
- After his retirement in 2017, Crossroads Academy honored him with a monthly “Tenney Tie Day” in recognition of his bow tie habit.
- Who was his spouse and when did they marry?
- In 2002, Peter met Alexandra (Alix) Howell, a researcher at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT; they married in 2004. After retiring, they moved to Brunswick, ME, to be closer to his beloved hometown of Castine.
- Did he continue to teach history after retiring?
- Peter became a docent at the nearby Joshua Chamberlain Museum, continuing his passion for teaching history.
- How did he spend retirement despite illness?
- He remained determined to enjoy retirement despite his illness, participating in family activities such as golf tournaments and reunions with friends in Castine shortly before his passing.
- Who survives him?
- Peter is survived by his wife of 21 years, Alexandra Howell, and her three children: Cameron (Christy), Nathan (Rebecca, and grandson Bryson), and Caroline (Tim). He is also survived by his brothers: David (Catherine), Donald (Marty), and Bradford (Laurie), along with his brothers-in-law Nicholas Levintow, Christopher Levintow, and Anthony Levintow. Peter had nieces Sarah Stammen (Jeff), Leah Keating (Eamon), Lauren Flewelling, and several great-nephews and nieces: Alden Stammen, Miles Keating, Haddie Keating, Seraphina Flewelling, and Aurora Flewelling.
- What are the funeral and memorial plans?
- There will be a private interment in Castine this fall, with a celebration of Peter’s life scheduled for late July 2026 in Castine, ME.
- How can people donate in his memory?
- Donations in Peter’s memory to support the Joshua Chamberlain Museum can be made to the Pejepscot History Center, located at 159 Park Row, Brunswick, ME 04011.
Quick Reference Table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Peter E. Tenney |
| Date of Birth | April 30, 1948 |
| Date of Death | September 16, 2025 |
| Education | University of Virginia, graduated 1971, degree in English |
| Teaching Career | Moses Brown School, Providence, RI (1976–1993); Crossroads Academy, Lyme, NH (1994–2017) |
| Retirement Honors | Crossroads Academy monthly “Tenney Tie Day” |
| Residence After Retirement | Brunswick, ME (moved to be closer to Castine) |
| Museum Involvement | Docent at the Joshua Chamberlain Museum |
| Memorial & Donations | There will be a private interment in Castine this fall, with a celebration of Peter’s life scheduled for late July 2026 in Castine, ME. Donations in Peter’s memory to support the Joshua Chamberlain Museum can be made to the Pejepscot History Center, located at 159 Park Row, Brunswick, ME 04011. |
Final note: For anyone who ever learned from him or played a friendly round at his side, Peter’s life was about steady play, good company, and leaving the course a little better than he found it. That’s a legacy worth a quiet clap as the flag goes down.
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Additional Resources
- Legacy: Peter E. Tenney Obituary
- Wikipedia: Education in the United States
- Legacy: Peter E. Tenney Tribute
- Google Search: Peter E. Tenney
- Legacy: Remembering Peter E. Tenney
- Google Scholar: History Education
- Legacy: Peter E. Tenney Life Celebration
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Teaching Pedagogy
- Legacy: Peter E. Tenney Contributions
- Google News: Peter Tenney
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