01/06/2009 CARMEL VALLEY ---- Greg Jensen certainly would have understood if people were afraid of him. That goes with the territory for a dentist. But his wife said he had a knack for making patients feel comfortable ---- so much so that many of them became his friends.

"There are a ton of horror stories out there when it comes to dentistry,'' Traci Jensen said, "but he didn't really have any. He was a great dentist, very thorough, very gentle.''

Greg Jensen built a popular dental practice near his Carmel Valley home but had to sell it in 2006, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. After what family and friends say was a long and valiant battle, Jansen died on Dec. 7 at San Diego Hospice in Hillcrest. He was 55.

His wife said he had the ability not only to create new friendships but to retain old ones. That's why she expects several hundred people to show up at a memorial service next week.

One of those who will be there is Joe Gonzalez, both a friend and patient of Jensen's, who marvels at how his strong faith and positive outlook never waned during his illness.

"The bottom line is his love for, and commitment to, God was always there in such a trying time,'' Gonzalez said. "It's pretty remarkable. He always refrained from making a negative comment about anybody. He was everyone's friend.

"His biggest disappointment was he didn't have more time down here to serve.''

Jensen was born April 11, 1953, to Darrell Jensen and Joan Ballif in Pleasant Grove, Utah, where he spent his first 10 years. His family then moved to La Canada, where he completed high school and excelled in sports.

He was not able to take advantage of baseball scholarship offers from the University of Southern California and Brigham Young University because of a football knee injury, but did earn a degree in biochemistry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and then his dental degree from San Francisco's University of the Pacific.

He began practicing dentistry with his father in Los Angeles in 1981 before starting his own business in San Rafael. He relocated to San Diego in 1987 to work as an associate with Alvarado Dental Group. That's where he met his wife, who worked there as an office manager. He married Traci Lawrence on May 17, 1992, and the couple moved to Carmel Valley.

By then, he had already had opened his own dental office in San Diego. He sold it in 2001 to buy a practice near his home, which he cultivated until his illness struck.

Jensen was very health-conscious, according to his family and friends. He loved cycling, jogging and golf. He also favored music, and was given high marks for his singing and guitar playing. Jansen and three other dentists at one time formed a band named Weener Pigs, and he later was a singer for Canyon Hills Community Church in the Del Mar area.

"Most girls probably think their little brothers are annoying, but he was really a fun playmate and a fun guy to take care of growing up,'' said his sister, Jan Jensen, 63. "He showed talents I don't know where they could have come from. Be it sports or music or whatever, he was just a natural. I become almost in awe of him.''

For the past two years, Jensen and his family attended Christian City Church in Carmel Valley. His wife said his strong religious convictions have comforted his family in this time of need.

"If he was bitter and angry, we all would have been, too, and that would have made it harder on us,'' Traci Jensen said. "He was a great man. He was very sensitive, a great husband, a great dad.''

Besides his wife, Jensen is survived by daughter Vanessa, 15; son Blake, 12; mother� Joan Jensen of San Marcos; sister Jan Jensen of Juniper Hills; and brother Steve Jensen of Anthem, Ariz.

A celebration of his life will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 12 at Grace Point Church.

08/30/2001 "... But the news of Marilyn Black's death hit me like a sharp kick in the stomach. Marilyn and I didn't hang in the same crowds a lot in school but I can still remember in Mrs. Durian's 4th grade class at Paradise Canyon when she said something nice to me. Isn't it funny how a classmate can say something nice to you when you are this nine-year old kid and forty years later you still remember it? 

Marilyn's father was one of the coaches of our Gray-Y basketball team. Our team was the Thunderbirds and I remember how cool I thought I looked when I put on my maroon and white Thunderbird t-shirt. And of course we always had one of the Black twins, either Marilyn or Bob in our class because they didn't want twins to be in the same classroom. 

The entire Black family was "good people." What a loss. Dennis Phinney"

06/14/2001  "I thought I would let you know that our classmate, Marilyn Black passed away a couple of years ago. She died of brain cancer. I saw her (twin) brother Bob fairly recently and he told me of her illness and death. She left a husband and I believe two children. She was a warm and wonderful person and she will be missed by many at the reunion.

06/14/2001 "I was very sad to hear the news of Marilyn's passing. I always like her and enjoy her wonderful smile and happy attitude. I was looking forward to seeing her at the reunion. She will be greatly missed."

06/14/2001 "i am saddened to hear about Marilyn's passing, I remember both her and her brother as great people and we had a lot of fun in school.  my prayers are with her family."

06/14/2001   Marilyn Black Blanken was a very special friend of mine who loved and served the Lord faithfully and touched many many people with her life. she blessed many people with her willingness to help and she was a very giving person. she married Don Blanken in 1977 and they had 3 wonderful children Josh, and Bobby who are college age and Michelle who is still in high school. she is very much missed and remembered. i just wanted to share that. bambi ann brookins schramm, class of '70.

06/15/2001   "I was stunned to learn of Marilyn Black's death. She was a most down to earth and beautiful girl and a member of a great family.

My parents still live on Merita Place since 1961 and it hasn't been a week since I drove to the top of the street and drive by and thought of the Black family. I always think of Dave, Diane, Marilyn and Bob as some of the strongest healthiest neighbors I have ever known.

My own family has had some unfortunate times. Six months after graduating from La Canada, my cousin David Schmucker died at age 19. Class of '69. After that both his sister Sheila and his mother Jean became nurses.

In 1984, my youngest brother Kent States was killed in Palm Desert by a drunk driver. It was devestating. Chad was the first in my family to have kids and that seemed to begin the healing process.

I remember Bob Black's thoughtful condolences as he and his wife were driving down Merita and stopped to talk with me.

Again, I'm very sorry to hear this. Gary States, class of 70

06/30/2001 "Cheryl, I called Melinda Bungartz, Billy's sister from the class of '72, to let her know that Billy's class was interested in knowing what happened to him. She was touched. Their parents are still living in La Canada and I know would appreciate knowing that he is remembered by his classmates.

I got further clarification about Billy's accident. He was 27 years old, riding a skateboard down Chevy Chase and grabbed onto a truck. He somehow ended up under it. He was in the hospital and in rehab for about 2 years. He died just short of his 30th birthday. Melinda told me he would have been 49 in August." Tari Chandler '70

02/05/02 Hi Cheryl

Thanks for the email about Barry Constable. Clayton and I were in choir with him at FIS (Foothill Intermediate School - for those having a hard time remembering). Mr Longfellow was the instructor. Clayton and I were quite close to him. We had a lot of fun together. I was never told how he passed away. I asked about him when I got into High School and the said he had died the year prior.

Thanks for the update.

Clifford Loy

02/04/02 From: Barry's brother Nan

This is so much fun ... I just called my folks in Arizona and told them about this coincidence! I cried while trying to read what Kathy wrote. All these years have passed and you still can cry about your loss..... I'll close now and drop Kathy Loop a note. Cheryl - I just packaged your happyballs, they will mail tomorrow. Bye Nanette

From: Cheryl

Oh, how fun that you work with your son! I'm tickled about the balls.

I feel warm fuzzies about Barry, but don't remember specific memories. Kathy Loop filled me in on her memories of Barry, and others followed.

Maybe Barry had something to do with this, chuckling about getting Jeremy and I on the phone together just long enuf to find out we had something in common.

From: Nannette 

Cheryl is there one of these sites for the class of 1968??? Nanette (Nan in the OLD days!)

From: Cheryl

I hear mine is the first, and word is spreading. '72 is building one now. Perhaps you can build yours *coy grin*?

Hi; My name is Nanette (Constable) Turner class of 1968 the sister of Barry K Constable class of 1971 if he had lived. By chance today my son had a business conversation with a Cheryl Miller and one thing lead to another that she (Cheryl) had gone to LCHS graduating in 1971 - Cheryl in turn told my son about this site, small world I'd say. Anyway, I wanted to thank those who wrote about Barry on these pages - I will be sharing this with my parents (they don't have a computer) and my older brother Ron I am sure they will be as touched as I was today. Respectfully, Nanette

09/22/2001 " Dear Cheryl: The notice about Cutis Smith is correct. His parents were friends of my parents. His death was written up in the Valley Sun. He died the same way Sonny Bono went, hitting a boulder while skiing. It was a terrible shame. IRENE PETERS NACHREINER"