Pamela S. "Penny" Masters

1946 - 2015

Pamela S. "Penny" Masters SAN DIEGO -- Pamela "Penny" Masters, a long time Vice President at Sea World, died July 20, 2015 from complications of pneumonia. Penny was born October 7, 1946, raised in Cleveland, Ohio and attended Brush High School. She later attended Ohio State University where she majored in Literature. From Ohio State she was recruited to work for the CIA in Langley, VA. In 1968, while working as an intelligence writer, she met the love of her life, Chuck Masters. After only a few weeks, Penny and Chuck were married - and remained so for the rest of her life. After leaving the CIA, she moved to Los Angeles and then to the University of Washington in Seattle where Chuck received an MFA in Art. From there it was on to SDSU where Chuck taught until 1977. In 1976, Penny began a long career at Sea World, beginning as a records clerk and advancing to Vice President of Human Resources. As she rose through the ranks, she became one of the most beloved and cherished employees in Sea World history. "She could do things that no one else could." In 2001, her department received the highly coveted EVE (Exemplary Volunteer Effort) from the U.S. Secretary of Labor. Her legacy became and will remain a champion of all park employees and the park itself. Her goal was to prove that corporate efficiency and employee well being worked hand-in-hand. Upon her retirement in 2002, she became an even more voracious reader, world traveler and overseer of her husband, her grandchildren and her beloved dogs. She is survived by her husband Chuck; her daughter Samantha Gianulis and son-in-law, Pete Gianulis; and her grandchildren: Dillon, Alex, Zoe and Melia Gianulis. A memorial service will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28th at Sea World in the Nautilus Pavilion, 500 Sea World Dr., San Diego. A family interment will be held Miramar National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to www. smiletrain.org.