Tory R. Tennyson

Tory Rachel, 51, passed away, with family at her side, on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 in Boquete, Panama.  Tory has lived in Panama and loved it for the past 4 years with her husband, Rick Tompos formerly from Culver, IN.

Tory was born to Norva (Tennyson) Shidler and Robert Tennyson on October 22, 1971 and spent most of her life in Mishawaka and Granger, graduating from Penn High School in 1990. After graduating Tory attended Michiana Community College in South Bend, receiving her Associate Degree in accounting. Tory worked at her father’s company, Plastic Solutions, Inc., in South Bend for more than ten years.  Most of the time there she used her degree in accounting, but she was often called on to wear many different hats and she wore them well.

Tory was married to Steve Schmidt, Culver, and raised three sons, Broderick, Gunnar and Paxton along with a bonus son, Christian Schmidt. Tory has four young grandchildren, Whestyn, Sawyer, Thatcher, and Emersyn.

When her sons were raised Tory adventured out to New York to attend International Culinary Center to become a Chef. While she was there, she fell in love with the Big Apple, especially it’s many unique neighborhoods. Tory made a special friend of 90-year-old “Moe the Butcher” at the iconic Albanese Meats and Poultry in Little Italy, just around the corner from her apartment.  Tory brought her new knowledge back to South Bend and spent some more time honing her skills at various local restaurants.

On November 7, 2018 Tory married Rick at Santa Monica Pier, reception in Chicago end, and beginning of Route 66 and they together moved to Panama after visiting one time and falling in love with the community. Tory was much more than a daughter, sister, mother, wife and friend.  She had an adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit.   She loved feeding her friends and family and started thinking about turning that love into a business, Tory opened Tory’s Diner in Boquete. It is the place to go for the many Americans (and Panamanians) who discovered that the comfort food she served came with a ‘’side of love.”  Her diner proved so popular that she decided to open a second diner/deli in another location.  She was able to enjoy the excitement of a new venture and was working on the final details just before she passed. Tory also loved to travel and always looked forward to her next adventure.

She is survived by her father Robert and Faith, mother Norva and Brian, husband Rick, her sons and daughter-in-law Kyleigh grandchildren, stepchildren: Adam, Anna and Ryan Tompos; siblings: Ty (Kristin) Tennyson, Jackie (Tim) Pezzuto, added family including Todd and Krystle, Tina and Jason, Shelly and Jarrod, several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, including Cassidy, Ryann Tennyson and Hannah Pezzuto as well as many friends.

Tory is preceded in death by her twin grandsons Jaxton and Greyson, son Christian, grandparents Charles Tennyson, Wanda Dunning, Stanley and Maxine Kuespert.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 1 pm. at 16636 Quince Rd. Culver, IN 46511.