In Memory

Tessie Tryfon (Faculty)

     East High Leopards
Class of 1965

Deceased Classmate: Tessie Tryfon, faculty
Date Of Birth: 1938
Date Deceased: 2009
Age at Death: 
Cause of Death: 
Classmate City: 
Classmate State: 
Classmate Country: USA
Survived By: 

Tessie Tryfon Menechios was born April 17, 1938, in Salt Lake City to Chris and Georgia Tryfon. She passed away at her home on Tuesday, December 12, after a long battle with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). She had an idyllic childhood in Salt Lake. She and her friends would watch Gene Autry cowboy movies and re-enact them in the gully and creek by her house. She loved going on family picnics in the canyons. After she graduated from the University of Utah, she taught at East High School, then one of the top ten high schools in the country. She won teaching awards for her demanding history courses. She was well-loved and was very proud to keep in touch with many of her former students, even 40 years after she stopped teaching. In 1968, she married Charles Menechios and moved to Palos Verdes Estates where she raised her family. She maintained close ties to Salt Lake City, while making lifelong friendships in California. She was an active member of the Greek Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City and Redondo Beach. She sang in the choir as a young woman and served as vice-president of Philoptochos. An excellent cook, she was known for her fruited sherbet, baklava, and sweet potato casserole. She also enjoyed gardening and loved her roses. She instilled her love of the ballet, classical music, and art in her daughters. She is survived by her loving and devoted family, husband Charles; her daughters, Katherine Frazier (Don) and Stacy; and two granddaughters. Also her brother, George (Pam) Tryfon; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at St. Katherine's on Saturday, December 12 at 11:30 am. A viewing will be held Friday at St. Katherine's from 6pm to 7pm, with Trisaigion services beginning at 6:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church, 722 Knob Hill Ave., Redondo Beach, CA 90277

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08/18/15 01:38 PM #1    

Jean Kreipl (Shoemaker)

Miss Tryfon was my favorite teacher at East. Her US History class was brutal but awesome! No wonder her obit said she won awards for her demanding history classes. I lived across the street from her and she would laugh and tell me she saw the lights on in my house in the wee hours of the morning the nights before her tests. Sooo true! Peter Thacker & I sat right in front of her desk and I loved to see her hairstyles and wardrobe each day. She also took an interest in me and said I should try go to Dartmouth one day. She was truly a great lady.

08/18/15 06:30 PM #2    

Randy Olsen

She ran the model UN for many years and East High frequently won the award for best performance.  The one year I did that we won.  You had to take a test to "make the squad".  My sister went to East with her and was one of her good friends and said I should take history from her, but her class would never quite fit.


08/18/15 09:34 PM #3    

Steve Smith

I wished that I would have had a good experience with Tessie, I know I would now. She and a neighbor of our taught together at East, his father taught as well. We have talked about him before William (Bill) Bradshaw.


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