Carlos Francisco Trenary

Carlos Francisco “Pancho” Trenary, passed away on 04/03/2024 at the age of 75. Carlos was an adventurer and traveler at heart, having lived such a unique life that is almost unbelievable if there wasn’t photographic evidence. He was the oldest of two siblings born in New Orleans, Louisiana to Richard Trenary and Maria Ramos-Jimenez. Carlos learned to speak spanish as his first language and later english when he started grammar school at St Josephs in Gretna. He graduated from Archbishop Shaw High School in 1966. It was in his early childhood where he became a voracious reader and lover of books, history, and cultures. Having a rebellious streak, Carlos fell in love with the music and hippie culture of the sixties and in early adulthood got his CDL and worked as a roadie and sound engineer, traveling with acts such as Jefferson Airplane, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa and many more. His travels and adventures led him to Northern California, where he settled in the Mt Shasta region, got married, and had two daughters. Eventually he moved back to the New Orleans area and graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Anthropology, after becoming interested in his mother’s indigenous heritage. In the late eighties, he moved to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University where he worked for several years in the Astronomy and Physics department and obtained his Master’s in Anthropology. One of his greater undertakings was a months-long excursion to Papua New Guinea studying the native cannibalistic tribes and their belief systems in astronomy. Carlos switched careers in the late nineties to technology and became a Systems Administrator at Vanderbilt University. He retired in 2015 and immediately planned an extensive excursion to Africa where he traveled throughout the Congo, Kenya and Tanzania,on a mission to see as many animals as possible, the pinnacle of the experience being close encounters with Mountain Gorillas at the Virunga National Park-a lifelong dream. At this time, Carlos had traveled extensively throughout his life, visiting more than 40 countries across the world, but his Africa travels had the greatest effect on him, and he had planned to retire permanently in Africa. Sadly, in 2020 Carlos was diagnosed with a rare lung cancer but he did what he is best at, and studied the disease extensively, crafted a care plan, and was able to enjoy much of his remaining years in Nashville in his home on the Cumberland river, surrounded by books, close friends and family. Carlos is survived by his two daughters Jasmin Trenary, Maggie Gleason (Edward Gleason), and two grandchildren Jack and Remi Gleason, a sister, Evelyn Wirstrom, and his former wife and dear friend Irina Trenary. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Richard and Maria. He will have a memorial service on Saturday April 13, from 2-4 at Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home located at 2707 Gallatin Road, Nashville, TN 37216. His green burial will take place on Tuesday, April 16, at Larkspur Conservatory at 11:00 am. What to expect at a natural burial: Dress for an outdoor hike and wear appropriate shoes. Use the restroom before you arrive, there is no public toilet or running water. Carpool to Larkspur - parking is limited. Plan to arrive 15 minutes ahead of time. Family and friends will be welcomed at the trailhead by Larkspur staff and volunteers. The casket or body will be in place at the graveside prior to the arrival of family and friends. Family and friends will hike up the hill into the nature preserve for the burial ceremony. Words are shared and the casket or body is lowered into the grave by family and friends. With guidance the family and friends shovel soil into the grave until it is closed. Hike away from the graveside and return to your vehicle or explore the preserve. Leave no trash behind. Cut flowers are welcome.

Carlos Francisco Trenary

February 4, 1949 - April 3, 2024