Former ATSU President Tinning dies at age 83
Posted: December 9, 2019
Fred C. Tinning, PhD, A.T. Still University’s (ATSU) eighth president, passed away on Nov. 30, 2019.
Dr. Tinning served as ATSU’s president from 1984-96. With a strong belief in osteopathic principles and practices, Dr. Tinning and his beloved wife, Janet, established the Fred C. Tinning, PhD, Founder’s Day Osteopathy Lecture endowment at ATSU in 2009.
Dr. Tinning was recognized nationally as a true leader and advocate of the osteopathic philosophy and profession. He received many honors and awards, including being named president emeritus of ATSU’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM), the naming of ATSU’s Tinning Education Center in his honor in 1994, Michigan State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999, Kirksville Osteopathic Alumni Association Living Tribute Award in 2003, and an honorary doctor of osteopathic education degree from ATSU-KCOM in 2014.
Dr. Tinning will be missed by many colleagues and friends. His deep devotion to osteopathic medicine, ATSU-KCOM, and ATSU will live on through the lives and work of students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Dr. Tinning was always excited to talk by telephone or in person about his love for family and passion for osteopathic education.
There will be two opportunities to celebrate Dr. Tinning’s life. The first will be in Kirksville, Missouri, at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, with family present from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m. Celebration of life service will be Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. with burial following at Parkview Memorial Gardens on site. In addition, there will be a meal for all family and friends immediately after burial.
The second opportunity to celebrate Dr. Tinning’s life will be Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, in Lansing, Michigan, at the University Club of Michigan State University. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by the celebration of life service at 2:00 p.m.
On behalf of the entire ATSU family, we offer our deepest condolences to the Tinning family and to Dr. Tinning’s friends and colleagues during this difficult time.
He is survived by his daughters Marie (Curtis) Ebeling of Memphis, Missouri; Jean (Michael) Virkus of Rochester, Michigan; and Laura (Wade) Tinning Reister, DO, ’00, of Lansing, Michigan; grandchildren Christina, Elizabeth, Rachel, and Rebekah Duzan and Matthew Ebeling; Benjamin, Jacob, and Marlowe Virkus; Alec, Zachary, Maximus, and Mason Bode; and step-grandchildren Josh, Emily, and Andrew Ebeling.