San Francisco names street ‘Stephen Tennis Way’ in tribute to community hero

The city is naming a stretch of Eddy Street after a beloved longtime community member who passed away last year.

In a profound tribute to Stephen Richard Tennis, affectionately known as Stephen Tennis, and his decades of leadership, stewardship, and love for the Tenderloin, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has designated as “Stephen Tennis Way” the 200 block of Eddy Street, from Jones to Taylor — right in front of Boeddeker Park, where Stephen worked. Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who represents the neighborhood, put forward the legislation naming the street.

The Tenderloin Community Benefit District, which employed Stephen, will host an event the morning of March 20 unveiling a new sign with the commemorative street name. Afterward, attendees will be welcome to eat lunch together at the park. Register here to attend.

Stephen was born in October 1948. A U.S. Merchant Marine veteran who enlisted at age 18 and served in the Vietnam War, he faced personal hardships — including addiction — before committing to sobriety, emerging as an inspiring figure of resilience, kindness, optimism, and fierce protectiveness toward others.

For decades, Stephen devoted himself to improving and safeguarding the Tenderloin community through multifaceted roles.

He was one of the first and longest-serving “corner captains” in the Tenderloin Community Benefit District’s Safe Passage program, through which he guided thousands of children, families, and seniors safely through the streets to school, home, and after-school programs.

Stephen served as a park steward at Boeddeker Park. There his presence transformed the space into a true refuge. He cleaned equipment and removed hazards, including discarded drugs — and he was trained and ready to use Narcan to reverse overdoses. He monitored the area to keep it safe, and ensured children could play freely, without worry. He fostered recreation, cultural gatherings, celebrations, and genuine community connection amid the challenges that come with urban living.

In his work with the Central City SRO Collaborative, Stephen fully embodied the role of a tenant leader and advocated tirelessly for low-income residents of single-room occupancy hotels. He championed many campaigns to help tenants within and outside their buildings, such as accelerating repairs to aging elevators, strengthening rent control laws,andrunningdisaster preparedness workshops.

He helped push for altering one-way arteries to enable two-way traffic, which made them safer by slowing overall speeds. He also helped efforts to clear parked cars from Turk Street to reduce drug dealing — illicit drug sales happened in the vehicles. And he supported brighter streetlights, an expanded Safe Passage program, and Vision Zero initiatives designed to increase pedestrian safety.

He was also a leader in the realm of food justice. He promoted equitable access to nutritious foods, and addressed distribution inequities to help build healthier, more resilient communities.

Well into his twilight years, he felt a drive to help his community. In 2018, at the age of 70, he was reappointed to the Central Market Street and Tenderloin Area Citizens’ Advisory Committee, further amplifying his voice in neighborhood stewardship and policy.

After receiving an aggressive cancer diagnosis, he faced his final months with grace, even attending a community celebration of his life at Boeddeker Park. Stephen passed away on September 26, 2025.