Obituary of Louise Tiernan

Louise Dietze Tiernan, a long time resident of Bedminster, N.J., died peacefully in her sleep at home on Friday, October 21, 2011. She was born in Passaic, New Jersey on August 22, 1920, the daughter of Walter and Grace Dietze and the eldest of three children. Her childhood summers were spent in Northport, New York where she loved to sail, swim, fish, and clam with her father. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for riding and horses by exercising polo ponies. She graduated from Passaic Collegiate School and attended Smith College for two years. When World War II broke out, she left college to marry C. Wallace Tiernan and they moved to Washington, D.C. while he served in the U.S. Navy. In 1945, Louise and Wally moved to Essex Fells, New Jersey where they raised a large and happy family in their Devon Road home. Like her father, Louise was a very active and dedicated volunteer in the community including service to the PTA, Junior League, and Mountainside Hospital. She was an avid reader, loved to visit museums and traveled abroad frequently. Winter weekends were often spent skiing with her family in Stratton, Vermont where they had a chalet on the mountain. Summers were spent on Shelter Island, New York where Louise continued to enjoy her many outdoors interests with her family, dogs, horses and friends. In the 1970's Louise fulfilled a life long dream by purchasing Tara Farm in Bedminster, New Jersey. There she stabled her horses and had an olympic dressage ring in the front pasture. Louise became a Technical Delegate of both the United States Dressage Federation and the United States Equestrian Foundation. She was a Founding Member of the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association and a member of the Gold Medal Club of the U. S. Equestrian Team. Louise officiated at many high level equestrian events and attended several Olympic Games throughout the world. Her second biggest love was raising and training beautiful golden retrievers out of her kennel which was appropriately named Golden Fleece Kennels. She competed in obedience trials and volunteered with her goldens which were certified therapy dogs at Matheny School, Glenlora and Green Knoll Nursing Home, Bryan Manor and Kessler Institute. Louise loved her family and animals deeply and lived her life to the fullest until her very last days. She will be sorely missed by all who were touched by her optimism, indomitable spirit and vivacious energy. Louise is survived by her children, Carroll Tiernan of Scarborough, Maine, Charles Wallace Jr, Richard and Timothy Tiernan all of Shelter Island, New York, Christine Tiernan of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Susan Madrigan of Brattleboro, Vermont. She is also the proud grandmother of Gerry, Sean and Geoffrey Tiernan, Alyson, Julia and Hanna Madrigan, Maxwell Muller as well as great grandmother to Jack and Stella Rose Tiernan. A memorial service will be celebrated in her memory at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 182 Main Street, Gladstone, New Jersey on Friday December 9th at 11AM In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St Luke's Church, 182 Main Street, Gladstone, NJ or Morris Animal Foundation, 45 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112-5412.