
Gene Tenney and Rod Parkinson discovered their mutual interest in woodworking differently. Gene can’t recall a time when a woodshop wasn’t a part of his life. His father, a carpenter by trade, was an exceptional woodworker in his spare time. Like his father, Gene prioritized building a woodshop in Port Townsend, where he lived for 22 years.
“I have always been passionate about woodworking,” says Gene, a retired engineer.
Prior to moving to Wesley at Tehaleh, Rod hadn’t worked with wood. A retired logistics officer in the transportation industry, he preferred working on engines and restoring vintage vehicles, like his 1950 Chevy pick-up. Rod frequently takes his fire-engine-red truck to regional auto fairs.
“I grew up in Enumclaw, where we still have cruising on the first Friday of every month,” he says.
In addition to woodworking, Gene is also a self-described “car nut.” A big NASCAR fan, he’s always owned sports cars, including five different Alfa Romeos.
Where it all started
Gene and Rod first met when they moved to Wesley, the second and third residents in the Brownstone building. When Gene saw a vacant room on the main floor, he asked if he could create a workshop in the space.
“Gene asked me if I would like to help him create the workshop,” says Rod. “I had never worked with wood before, being more mechanically inclined, but it sounded like a fun project.”
There were plenty of obstacles in creating their new workspace.
“When Gene and I got started, we quickly realized the rough cement floor wouldn’t work well, so Gene asked a friend of his to come to grind the floor smooth and put in an epoxy floor,” says Rod. “There had been a flood which resulted in a pile of materials lying around from the construction of the Brownstone. Wesley gave us permission to resell some of the materials, which provided the funds for the floor.”
Gene, who worked for 18 years at “Waste Not—Want Not” as a retirement job, knew how to identify quality materials for resale and inclusion in the new project. He also donated his bandsaw floor model and his father’s draftsman table from the 1950s. Other residents donated their home equipment, and soon, the woodshop was in business.
“To think, when we started, there was a single sink in there,” says Rod.
“When we decided we should have a new SawStop ‘Hot Dog’ table for safety,” says Gene, “we launched a fundraiser. With the help of residents and Wesley Community Foundation, we quickly raised the needed funds. It was impressive.”
Gene shares the story about one resident, a retired fire chief, who donated a brand-new lathe. Unfortunately, he passed away before he was able to use it.
“Rod loves that lathe, making decorative pieces like bowls, vases, and such,” he says. “Though Rod had never worked with wood, he took to it like a duck to water. Few days go by when we don’t spend time together in the shop.”
A skill the community appreciates
The two friends have become an invaluable resource for their community. Neighbors often bring broken chairs, picture frames, and other common wooden objects to be repaired.
“Often something breaks in transit when folks are moving in,” says Gene. “We’ve refinished several bookcases and recently repaired a rocking chair. It’s nice to offer the resource to our community. Wesley also provides supplies for us to repair objects and create new items.”
They aren’t simply fix-it men, either. They make wood objects each year for the annual employee recognition day, an opportunity for residents to express their appreciation. Gene, Rod, and the other friends who work in the woodshop have made jewelry boxes, wooden boxes, vases, candle holders, and a charcuterie board, among other keepsakes. Gene, a lifelong model train enthusiast, also builds toy wooden trains for employee gifts.
Enjoying more of the community
Gene and Rod’s wives also became fast friends when they first moved in. Married for 58 and 61 years, respectively, the Tenneys and Parkinsons attend many cultural events together. They’re fond of jazz pianist and Pacific Lutheran University professor Dr. David Joyner, who regularly performs on the Wesley at Tehaleh campus. The men often share a beverage together in the evening, discussing their 50-something-aged children and grandchildren.
“Our wives take dance and other classes together,” says Gene. “Rod and I keep content working in the woodshop.”
Like their friends, Gene says he and his wife made quick work of relocating to Wesley at Tehaleh. Their neighbor had moved to a Wesley campus and liked it very much, so the Tenneys decided to visit the Brownstone.
“We took a ride over, and a couple of weeks later, we signed the papers,” he says.
Rod also appreciates the Wesley community. “We are a bunch of crusty old people set in our ways,” he laughs. “But you bond easily here. It’s great to make new friends in our mid-80s.”