I will remember Peter best as a talented musician. I would run into Pete at the market, see him walking around the neighborhood. Years ago I could hear his saxophone floating on a breeze, but I hadn't heard him playing for some time now. I hope you are in a better place now old friend.
Pete Tennis . . . kind of sounds like the name of a famous saxophonist. Well, it should have been, but as the saying goes, there are some too gentle to live amongst wolves. Pete was one of those. I met Pete in junior high school when me and my band, the Strangers were playing a dance at St. Apolinaris Catholic church in the auditorium. That would have been 1964.He joined us for several songs with his saxophone. Even then as a 15 year old kid, he was great! Pete practiced with us a few times, and when he played with us, the level of the quality of the music rose perceptibly. I have always liked to jam with folks who are at least a little better than I am because it stretches your abilities and takes you to that higher plain where you can improve. Pete did that for me. I was always aware that Pete was fragile, and I tried to let him know how much he added to the music. Later in high school, Pete, Terry Baily, Chris Nielson and I shared a double date on Baccalaureate night. We went to dinner in SF, and after a long night, greeted the sun at Ocean Beach near the Cliff House, scratching huge pictures in the sand with driftwood. What happened in the following years is a mystery to me. Oh, I heard rumors, but I don't spread rumors. I would often see Pete walking along the streets of Napa, and some times I'd run into him at a restaurant ,where we'd share breakfast. Once I asked him if he still played the Sax, and he grew very silent and inward before saying, "No. I don't " Pete was a good man. He was a life long friend, and I am saddened that he has passed on. And, oh, what a saxophone player he was. Pete was a melody.
Pete was a good running buddy of mine through our 2 years together at Napa High. There were 4 to 6 of us who hung together and somehow managed to keep out of major trouble. There was something very special about Pete's sax, so special he got a fullride scolarship to the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Mass. In his first year there he excelled for awhile even playing in a couple of jazz bands on weekend gigs. Unfortunatlly at an age when it most often happens Pete was aflicted initally with undiognosed possible schizophrenia. I remember the heartbreak of helping his father organize a trip to fly out and bring Pete back to Napa to the painful journey through the health care system. It was all speculation as to what was really happening and I fear the system never did find adiquit answers. Pete in later years lived in a board and care home near downtown Napa where I operated my jewely store and I would see him quit regularly as he would stop by. Whenever he'd stop by or I see him on the street his great smile would jump, we'd shake hands, or hug and run off into talk about the old days. He never tired of the memories. Pete was a very special person with special talents that like so many in similar circumstances got delt a rotten han in life. Make no mistake we are all better people for having Pete as our friend. Love ya buddy.
John Beatty
I will remember Peter best as a talented musician. I would run into Pete at the market, see him walking around the neighborhood. Years ago I could hear his saxophone floating on a breeze, but I hadn't heard him playing for some time now. I hope you are in a better place now old friend.
Jim Pryts
Pete Tennis . . . kind of sounds like the name of a famous saxophonist. Well, it should have been, but as the saying goes, there are some too gentle to live amongst wolves. Pete was one of those. I met Pete in junior high school when me and my band, the Strangers were playing a dance at St. Apolinaris Catholic church in the auditorium. That would have been 1964.He joined us for several songs with his saxophone. Even then as a 15 year old kid, he was great! Pete practiced with us a few times, and when he played with us, the level of the quality of the music rose perceptibly. I have always liked to jam with folks who are at least a little better than I am because it stretches your abilities and takes you to that higher plain where you can improve. Pete did that for me. I was always aware that Pete was fragile, and I tried to let him know how much he added to the music. Later in high school, Pete, Terry Baily, Chris Nielson and I shared a double date on Baccalaureate night. We went to dinner in SF, and after a long night, greeted the sun at Ocean Beach near the Cliff House, scratching huge pictures in the sand with driftwood. What happened in the following years is a mystery to me. Oh, I heard rumors, but I don't spread rumors. I would often see Pete walking along the streets of Napa, and some times I'd run into him at a restaurant ,where we'd share breakfast. Once I asked him if he still played the Sax, and he grew very silent and inward before saying, "No. I don't " Pete was a good man. He was a life long friend, and I am saddened that he has passed on. And, oh, what a saxophone player he was. Pete was a melody.
Scott Leonard
Pete was a good running buddy of mine through our 2 years together at Napa High. There were 4 to 6 of us who hung together and somehow managed to keep out of major trouble. There was something very special about Pete's sax, so special he got a fullride scolarship to the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Mass. In his first year there he excelled for awhile even playing in a couple of jazz bands on weekend gigs. Unfortunatlly at an age when it most often happens Pete was aflicted initally with undiognosed possible schizophrenia. I remember the heartbreak of helping his father organize a trip to fly out and bring Pete back to Napa to the painful journey through the health care system. It was all speculation as to what was really happening and I fear the system never did find adiquit answers. Pete in later years lived in a board and care home near downtown Napa where I operated my jewely store and I would see him quit regularly as he would stop by. Whenever he'd stop by or I see him on the street his great smile would jump, we'd shake hands, or hug and run off into talk about the old days. He never tired of the memories. Pete was a very special person with special talents that like so many in similar circumstances got delt a rotten han in life. Make no mistake we are all better people for having Pete as our friend. Love ya buddy.