Rev. Dr. William PENFIELD

PENFIELD, Rev., Dr. William
The Rev. Dr. William N. Penfield died Friday, (October 28, 2011) at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, CT at the age of 87. A son of Walter A. and Mary O. Penfield, he was born in Hackensack, NJ, raised in NJ and MA and was a World War II veteran. He earned a Bachelor of Arts, Hobart College, 1949; Bachelor of Sacred Theology 1959, Master of Sacred Theology, 1975 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity, 2002 all from General Theological Seminary where he was a trustee for six years. After ordination, he served first as priest, educator and administrator at St. Bernards Lower School in Gladstone, NJ.; at Kent School, in Kent, CT where he was organist and choirmaster, and St. Stephens School in Rome, Italy. A faithful pastor, he has served parishes in Newark, NJ; Hartford, CT and Palm Beach, FL. He formed the Episcopal Metropolitan Mission, a consortium of parishes to serve inner city programs in Hartford. He was a director of urban ministry and mission, Chaplain to the clergy, and a member of the Board of Examining Chaplains in the Diocese of CT. Finally, before retiring to CT and Maine, he served for eleven years as Executive Director of the Society for the Increase of Ministry. A member of the Bucks Harbor Yacht Club, he loved music, his house in Maine, sailing, tennis, his family and his friends. He was also a devout follower of Judge Judy. He leaves his wife Meredith, son Nicholas, daughter Sarah, brother Walter and numerous nieces and nephews who referred to him as Uncle Pie. He was loved and will be missed by all who knew him.
A service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 120 Sigourney St., Hartford, CT at 12 p.m. on Saturday, November 5. In place of flowers, gifts may be sent to The General Theological Seminary, 440 West 21st Street, New York, New York 10011, attention of Donna Ashley or in honor of the Rev. Dr. William N. Penfield to the Society for the Increase of the Ministry (SIM), 924 Farmington Avenue, Suite 100, West Hartford, CT 06107. For online condolences, please visit www.rowefuneralhome.net