John Tegenfeldt, 71, of Qualicum Beach, BC, died on February 25, 2019 in Palm Desert, California.
John is survived by his wife Diane, sons Aron (Ramen), Karl (Joanna) and Ryan (Ashley), grandsons Norin, Walter and Charles, siblings Edwin (Miggie), Judy (Cliff), Paul (Robin) and David (Carol), as well as many other relatives. He is preceded in death by his parents Herman and Ruth, and sisters Nancy and Alice.
Born April 3, 1947 in Oak Park, Illinois to parents Ruth Adelaine Pearson and Herman Gustaf Tegenfeldt, John spent his youth between Myitkyina, Myanmar, where his parents served as missionaries, and Kodaikanal, India, where he attended boarding school. John graduated from Kodaikanal High School in 1964, and went on to attend Bethel College (St. Paul, Minnesota) where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics in 1968, followed by the University of Minnesota where he received his Master’s of Hospital Administration in 1975. In between his undergraduate and graduate studies, John entered the Peace Corps and spent two years in Nepal, which proved to be a formative experience that he carried with him through the rest of his life.
From graduate school, John’s career took him to Vancouver, Canada, where he quickly moved into senior management roles, first as an Assistant Director at Vancouver General Hospital (1975-1979) and then as CEO of BC Children’s Hospital from 1979-1996. His career in health care administration spanned 35 years, during which time he worked in executive leadership capacities for a variety of regional, provincial and international health care organizations. Notable among these were his roles as CEO of the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board, CEO of the Beijing Toronto International Hospital in China, and Deputy Minister of Health Planning for the Province of British Columbia. He also served on numerous boards of charities and non-profit organizations and was a highly respected leader in his field.
John had a love for tennis and golf and enjoyed travel and the outdoors. His love of travel took him on numerous trips to many countries throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas, with recent highlights during his retirement years that included visiting Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, Australia, New Zealand, and Eastern Europe. He was also able to attend all four of the major tennis ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments, which was a lifelong dream. He was a friend to many, and his contagious laugh and warm spirit were evident to those who knew and loved him. He lived a full and active life until his last day, and his sudden passing while playing one of his favourite sports came as a shock to all. He loved, and was loved by, many and will be deeply missed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation John Tegenfeldt CICH Endowment Fund.
www.bcchf.ca/donate/
www.vancouverfoundation.ca/give/donate/agency/british-columbias-childrens-hospital-foundation