The Tinneny Family History Site
 

Biographies of Our Forefathers

John Wallace "Wally" (Tinneny) Klebes

John Wallace Tinneny was the first son of Patrick Tinneny and Anna Ambrose.  He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania about 1915.  He was baptized in Holy Family Church and raised the Manayunk section of the City the first couple years of his life.   

After his father died, Wally's mother married Leo Klebes who adopted Wally and his younger brother Daniel.  With the adoption boys last names were changed from Tinneny to Klebes. The family moved from Manayunk to 6801 Ditman Street in Northeast Philadelphia.  As a child and young man Wally enjoyed music, table tennis and tennis.

Wallace worked for Sears and Roebuck Company from 1945 until 1960.  In his earlier days with the Company he was a touring tennis professional.  He gave table tennis exhibitions throughout the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.  During these exhibits he would play table tennis with people from the crowd.  While those he played against used the standard table tennis paddle Wally used a miniature paddle that was the exact size as the table tennis ball. 

Wallace married Constance "Connie" Masciendaro.  The couple was married in New Jersey.  Sponsors at their wedding were the grooms brother Daniel Klebes and Connie's sister Dorothy.  Following their marriage Wallace and Connie lived in Camden, New Jersey then in Mount Holly, New Jersey. 

Wallace was affectionately known by family and close friends as “The Captain" due to his meticulous dress and demeanor.  As an adult Wallace enjoyed woodworking.  He also enjoyed drinking beer and after a few beers he considered himself quite a dancer.  Concerning the drinking, however, his nephew Daniel remembers that although his Uncle Wally loved to drink beer his behavior and attitude was never anything less than gentlemanly.  Daniel went on to recount that his Uncle Wally was as they say, "the stuff of legends and a true and honest son of Erin." 

Wallace and Connie had no children.  Connie's mother lived with Connie and Wally in their home in Maple Shade, New Jersey.  Connie contracted lung cancer and died.  Following her death, Wally who was in poor health, sold their home and entered a Nursing home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 

In the fall of 1995 Wallace died in Philadelphia of cardiac arrest.  He was 70 years old.

Note Wallace had no descendants.



 

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Updated January 7, 2024
 
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