Dr. Robert Tennies was the beloved Headmaster of Boca Raton Christian School for the past 34 years. He passed into Glory on September 1st following a heart procedure. Dr. Tennies was born in Bogota, Columbia, where his parents were missionaries. He made Boca Christian his mission field with a life-long dedication to caring for children’s minds and souls. His wife, Mrs. Ruth Tennies, was by his side at Boca Christian, first as a teacher, and for the past 32 years as the Media Specialist. Both of their daughters attended Boca Christian.

Dr. Tennies was a proud graduate of Wheaton College (BS in Biology). He attended graduate school at the University of South Florida (MA in Science Education) and Florida Atlantic University (EdD in Administration/Supervision). Dr. Tennies served as an Accreditation Committee Chairperson for the Association of Christian Schools International in order to help other schools achieve excellence in Christian education. He was an invited speaker at national and international conferences on children’s Christian education. As Headmaster of Boca Christian, he saw the school grow from under 200 students to nearly 600, with corresponding increases in faculty. The school was named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the US Department of Education in 1990 and 1997 during his tenure, as well as receiving recognition by the Florida State House of Representatives for outstanding achievement in education.

Dr. Tennies is remembered by his faculty, staff, and students as a leader of action as well as prayer. He could be seen all around campus every day. He often spent time walking the campus and stopping to pray, supervising car lines at pick up, attending countless sporting events and all musical performances and daily devotions with his staff. From chapel on the first morning of the new

school year, when he introduced his annual theme, to awarding Kindergarten and High School diplomas at the close of a school year, Dr. Tennies was always present and always interacting with students. Each month he hosted a pizza lunch in his office for children selected

as students of the month, and he enjoyed these times of getting to know them. He made an effort to greet each child in the school by name.

Dr. Tennies was always generous with his time. For several years, he and his wife were foster parents and opened their home to children in need. He also taught Sunday school for 41 years and loved planning his lessons. The two Bibles that he studied and prepared with were well marked and both were falling apart from use! His staff knew he was always available for wise counsel and prayer. The school staff unanimously agrees that Dr. Tennies inspired each one to strive to be a more loving Christian servant.

Dr. Tennies was known as thoughtful and wise, a man of utmost integrity, loving, kind, and forgiving, and one who truly lived his Christian faith with great purpose. He was a faithful servant of the Lord who touched thousands throughout his lifetime.