Obituary of Richard Gust Jensen

Richard Jensen was commended to the Lord after a 14-month courageous battle with a Glioblastoma Multiforme brain tumor. He passed away peacefully at his home in Atherton, CA with his wife, children, family and friends by his side. He is survived by his wife of 28 years Dianne, children Jeanne, Forrest and Katie Jensen, all of Atherton; sister and brother-in-law Janice and Lynn Muzzy and aunt Winifred Jensen of Minden, NV; mother-in-law Jeanne Palermo, and brother-in law David (Donna) Palermo of Amarillo, TX; Dan (Laurie) Palermo of Blaine, MN; Dean (Sara) Palermo of Ramsey, MN; Doug Palermo, of Torrence, CA and eight nieces and nephews. Rich was born in Oakland CA to Peter R. and Jane (Tangen) Jensen. He spent his childhood growing up in San Leandro and summers at the family ranch in northwest Montana with his grandparents, uncle, aunt, and cousins. His days were filled with fishing, swimming and tubing in the creek, horseback riding, hiking and camping, target shooting, building tree houses and rafts, and playing in the hay barn. When Rich was 4 or 5 his Mom and great Aunt took him to see Billy Graham at the Cow Palace. That event was burnished in his heart. During his high school years Rich became active in Young Life and accepted Christ as his personal Savior. Rich graduated in the top 10% of his class from San Leandro High in 1973. He excelled in academia, played on the golf team, and was also very passionate about student government as he was his sophomore and junior class president, and student body president as a senior. During the summer of 1970, he had the privilege of traveling to Perugia where he studied Italian. In June 1972 he attended a session of Boys State in Sacramento and received their American Legion "Outstanding Senior Boy" award. Rich was accepted to UC-Davis where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences in 1978. He was on the golf team and also taught a course in golf. In 1982 Rich graduated from Oral Roberts School of Dentistry with a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. He was also the Dental School student body president from 1981-1982. He completed a General Practice Residency in 1983 at the University of Mississippi. In 1991 he earned a Fellowship by the Academy of General Dentistry. From 1992-1993 he completed a mini-residency program in Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain at UC-San Francisco School of Dentistry. In 2001 he completed F.A.C.E. post-graduate study in Advanced Restorative and Occlusal Concepts. For the past 30 years, Rich practiced dentistry in Palo Alto and Menlo Park. He was also a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Seattle Study Club. He always had a passion for the blend of art and science offered in dentistry. He said, "It became a place where my skill sets perfectly intersected with my passion of wanting to be in a health profession to help people." Since he was afraid of the dentist as a child, he always made sure to give his patients the best, pain-free care possible. He went on to say, "I've always had a terrific staff around me to treat the most wonderful and appreciative family of patients." When he wasn't enjoying time with friends, you'd find Rich riding on his Gehl Skidsteer in his backyard. He really had a love for innovation and using his creativity outside in the yard and in the many different projects he loved to start. Rich was an active member of Central Peninsula Church for 29 years, where he also enjoyed teaching Sunday School. He enjoyed a rich, full life and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. One of Rich's favorite verses was: 1 John 4:7-11 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." In addition to his immediate family he is survived by his aunt Ilene Tangen of Libby, MT; cousins Mary Goos and family of Portland, OR; Rayetta Morrison and family, Teri Tangen and family, Wes Tangen and family and Ray Tangen, Jr. all of Libby, MT; Kristina and Si France and family of Menlo Park. The family wishes to express their gratitude to all his friends, especially to the McColloch, Morton and Remmers families, who saw to all the daily needs of the family, and to the Vitas Hospice staff that cared so lovingly for Rich. "Thank you" is simply not enough to express our gratitude. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Dec 19, 1:00 pm at Central Peninsula Church, 1005 Shell Blvd, Foster City. Dress is casual. The ministry of Young Life has been dear to Rich throughout his life. After settling in Menlo Park he became actively involved as a volunteer Young Life leader at Menlo Atherton High School and Sequoia High School. He especially enjoyed taking students to Young Life camps, including Malibu in British Columbia, Frontier Ranch in Colorado, and Woodleaf in California. In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations may be made to YOUNG LIFE and will be used for a special project at Woodleaf Camp. Please mail to Young Life, 1265 Beech St., East Palo Alto, CA 94303. Designate in memo "Rich Jensen Memorial."




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