Maria Christina (Tina) Van Loan Piejak, 78, died at home with family and friends in Ormond Beach, Florida, on September 6, 2026, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Tina lived a full and purposeful life, bringing a kindness, warmth and a genuine interest in others to everything she did. She was an avid tennis player, a devoted wife and gave her time generously to the people and causes she cared about. She was a good listener, always making others feel heard, accepted and valued. She had a quiet strength about her and a natural willingness to help others that touched many lives.

For 48 years, Tina and her husband, Bob, shared a life filled with activity, friendship, travel and adventure. They met on the tennis court and built their life around a shared enjoyment of tennis, biking, hiking, and the outdoors. As snowbirds, they divided their time between Ormond Beach, Florida and Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. Summering in the White Mountains was a very special part of their lives.

Tennis was a significant part of Tina’s life. She was a skilled and competitive player who was a force to be reckoned with on the court. Through tennis, she formed many lasting friendships and became part of a community she valued deeply.

Giving back was equally important to Tina. She especially enjoyed working with children to create opportunities for them to learn, explore, play, and have fun. She volunteered at the Environmental Discovery Center and the YMCA, where she worked directly with children, and also gave her time to Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church, The Casements, and the Celtic Games. Whether leading an educational activity, helping organize an event, or encouraging a child to try something new, Tina brought energy and enthusiasm to the experience. She found genuine satisfaction in helping young people discover new interests and opportunities.

Tina’s connection to Scottish Country Dancing began in childhood in Bedford NH, where she was a member of the Bedford Bairns, a local children’s Scottish dancing group. Her interest in SCD continued throughout her life, and she eventually became a dance teacher herself, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with others through her involvement with the annual Celtic Games in Ormond Beach and in Orlando.

Tina was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, on May 27, 1948, to Eugene M. Van Loan and Anna Schonland Van Loan of Bedford, New Hampshire. She grew up in Bedford, and attended local schools, and graduated from Manchester West High School in 1966. In 1970, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from Hope College in Holland Michigan. She later took courses in athletic training at Harvard.. Among her professional experiences, she served as an athletic trainer for the women’s rugby team at Harvard University; she also worked as a physical education teacher and an after school teacher for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her older brother, P. Nicholas “Nick” Van Loan, M.D.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Robert Piejak; her older brothers, Eugene Van Loan III and his wife, Veronica, and Jan Van Loan and his wife, Amina, and her sister-in-law, Nancy Newell Van Loan; and several nieces, nephews, and a large extended family.

Tina will be remembered for her strength, determination, generosity, and genuine care for others. She gave her time freely, especially to children, embraced life with energy and enthusiasm, and made lasting friendships wherever she went. She will be deeply missed by Bob, her family, and the many people whose lives she touched.

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.