PAUL JOSEPH PENCZNER

PAUL PENCZNER Obituary

PAUL JOSEPH PENCZNER, age 93 (born 09/17/1916, in Hungary), died Sunday, June 27, 2010, of old age, at home, after a brief illness. Mr. Penczner (of Penczner’s Fine Art Studio, in Midtown - since 1954) was one of the most prominent artists and art instructors in Memphis for decades, painting many innovative works of fine art and cityscapes and landscapes of locations around town, and around the world. He also was well-known as a portrait painter, with portraits ranging from the famous to the colorful - and one of his portraits received a prize at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. In the (late) 1980’s, Pope John Paul II accepted his drawings of Jesus Christ and the Twelve Apostles into the Vatican Museum of Art , where they are on permanent display in the Vatican Library. Presidents including most recently Bush and Obama, in this decade, have accepted his Americana-themed paintings into the White House collection. In 1995, June 15 was officially proclaimed “Paul Penczner Day”, by the Mayors of Memphis and Shelby County. Mr. Penczner leaves behind his German-born wife of almost 60 years, Jolanda, also of Memphis. He was the father of the late Peter Penczner, and leaves behind two sons, Paul, an international attorney, and Marius, a media consultant; three daughters-in-law, Jung-Mi (Rosita), Nancy and Debbie; four grandsons, Steven, Anthony, Paul and Andrew, and other family members, and good friends, acquired over the years since immigrating to Memphis with Jolanda, in 1951. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Thursday, July 1 at 11 a.m., with visitation with the family taking place there from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. immediately preceding the Mass. Mr. Penczner’s ashes will be interred privately at Memorial Park Cemetery in East Memphis. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Tribute Account No. 26166195) via a check payable to the above (acct. no. in memo line) and mailed to Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148, or via phone to 800-822-6344, with reference to such account no.

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Published by The Commercial Appeal on Jun. 29, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for PAUL PENCZNER

Sponsored by Timmy.

12 Entries

Charles Tilly

July 7, 2010

My wife and I with our one-year-old daughter settled in Memphis in the mid-1960s. Detecting my accent, people frequently asked me where I am from. After telling them that I came from Hungary, I often quickly was told about Paul Penczner, who by then was well-established in Memphis and known by many. Upon my first visit to his Studio, he gave me my first tour of my new home city of Memphis through his artwork, without ever leaving the Studio. As I started to move around the city, I found his work in private homes, offices, public buildings, hospitals and churches. I was particularly impressed by the portaits he was commissioned to paint of local dignitaries. All of which demonstrated to me his artistic talents, and his love, affection and fascination with our city, its people and its lifestyle. I was equally impressed by Paul's work that depicted his life growing up in Hungary, his memories of WWII and his journey to the U.S. Paul and his wife Jolanda were then and for many years the focal point for gatherings of not only native Mid-Southerners and Americans but immigrants from all parts of the European continent. We shared stories of our lives in the old country as well as here in the U.S. We never missed celebrating anyone's birthday, or a national or religious holiday or holy day. I remember singing traditional Christmas carols from our native countries, along with the American favorites. While Paul Penczner blended into the American way of life quickly and well, he never forgot his native country of Hungary which prepared him to become a success in this country. Over the past decades he spent a total of many weeks back in Hungary, capturing on paper and canvas historical sites and events. During his visits, he never forgot his old friends, his hometown and the schools he attended in his younger days. He remembered growing up as an orphan, and all the help he received from many sources in his life over the years. Thus, with an open heart he helped many persons and organizations worldwide in financial need. He was indeed a very generous man!!! He was proud to be a Memphian, and an American, and appreciated the freedom and opportunity his adopted country gave him, but remained proud of his Hungarian heritage. Paul, on behalf of your friends, both here in the U.S. as well as in Hungary, I would like to say Thank You. Thank You for your words of wisdom, and your encouragement helping us along our journey in life on this earth and thereafter. We thank you for the good times we had together over the years. We also want to thank God for bringing you into our lives. You will be missed by all of us!!! Because of Paul's continued devotion to his birthplace, he was honored at his Funeral Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis on July 1 with a traditional Hungarian anthem dating back to the early 1700s. In that song, the lyrics are very powerful and the Hungarians are asking the Blessed Virgin Mother Mary, their Patroness, to not forget them in their need. It is often played in Hungary during Mass.

Jung-Mi (Rosita) Penczner

July 1, 2010

My dear Papa, whenever I'm thinking of you, my tears automatically start dropping, and it's hard to stop. So it is difficult to write now, but I can't wait until the tears stop. I would like to share my memories while they are still fresh. You were and are a very special person to me not only as my father-in-law, but also because I have never seen and met such a warm-hearted and generous person in my 50 years of life. You were a very good father-in-law to me for 21 years, and especially for the last 6 years (while Paul and I and our boys have been living in the Memphis area). These past 6 years were a great time for me to get to know you better - and I hope, for you to get to know me better too. Since I moved to the Memphis area, I was able to have lots of time to spend with you in your Studio, and to talk about the many different things we shared discussions about. I was able to learn about your childhood, about which I didn't know much before. You lost your mother at age 6 and lost your father at age 10. As you know, I'm a mother of two sons, and whenever I'm thinking of your childhood, always my tears drop when I think of how much you missed your parents, and of how difficult a childhood you must have had. That this was not your choice, but rather it just happened to you, makes me sadder. I also have very happy memories, as well. I already miss you so much, especially the times when I spent time and helped a bit with the cleaning and with other things at your Studio, and then whenever I left the Studio, you always kissed my hand and said thank you very much, I appreciate your help, and you squeezed and held my hand hard, so that I could feel how much you appreciated my efforts to help. Because of my limited English as opposed to Korean, I cannot write everything I truly feel about how vast my good memories of you are, and of how great a person you were and are. Papa, I believe that now you are in heaven, and are having a great time with your parents and your son Peter, who passed away before you and whom you deeply missed. As in the past as well, from now on you will be always in my prayers. Your burial plot is much closer to my family's apartment in Collierville than Midtown is, and so whenever my missing you will lead me to want to visit you, then I'll visit you, which will be often. Papa, I loved and love you so !!!!!!!!!! much and I miss you so !!!!!!!!!! much. Your loving daughter-in-law, Jung-Mi (Rosita)

linda disney

June 30, 2010

Dear Yolanda, My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time, Mr. Penczner was my friend and inspiration for many years, his support and encouragement was very important in my art career. He will be missed by so many people that he touched with his extraordinary talent, but his legacy will live on in his work. Linda Disney

Stanetta Connor

June 29, 2010

Dear Penczner Family,
It was an honor to meet Mr. Penczner several years ago at the Biblical Resource Center in Collierville. We will forever enjoy and treasure his Twelve Apostles at OLPH Catholic Church. Great man, great mind, great works of art. Thank you for sharing him. We share your sorrow and great loss. May he rest in God's eternal peace. Stanetta Connor

Charlotte Dean

June 29, 2010

Yolanda, I was very sorry to read about Paul's death in today's paper. I have many fond memories of you and Paul at Carol and George Gage's home--they thought the world of Paul. Carol died in 1987 and George several years later (1999, I think). I have several of Carol's paintings hanging in my living room.

While I have not seen either of you in many years, you both were good friends to my family and I remember those days with happiness--

Thomas Paul

June 29, 2010

I so vividly remember being in downtown Memphis in my first plein-air painting class with Paul. I was 10 and it was 1956. The smell of linseed oil still brings memories of painting still lifes in his studio, as a student in his Saturday class. The truth be known, my career as an artist, and now a Fine Art Dealer, was initiated and inspired by Paul Penczner. He will be missed but always remembered.

June 29, 2010

The loss of someone so close is difficult to bear. We share your grief.

Tim Johnson

June 29, 2010

Forever in my Heart

June 29, 2010

I had a ball buying my two paintings from him and being in his studio. Linda Walter Memphis

MARY RINGOLD

June 29, 2010

My heart is truely saddened by the home going of Mr. Paul Penczner . I had an opportunity to know him on a personal/ professional level. I was his personal banker. I was always delighted to see Mr. Penczner when he came into the bank. He had a smile that would simply light up the world as he gave me his walking cane and proudly walked into my office without it. He would take care of his banking business and gently kiss my hand as he departed the bank. He protrayed a pillow of strength and joy that indicated he was in charged of the business at hand. I will surely miss Mr. Penczner; but cherish the moments and joy he brought to me at the bank. As I look at the painting Mr. Penczner gave me, I can see the sun rising and feel warmth in the room. That's the kind of love he shared every time he came.

Mary Ringold

Barbara Burch

June 29, 2010

I used to be a neighbor of Mr. Penczner. My prayers to his family. He was a very extraordinary man.

With sympathy,

June 29, 2010

DEAR MRS. PENCZNER, I WAS A STUDENT OF PAUL'S FOR MANY YEARS, AND HE REALLY WAS A GREAT PAINTER AND TEACHER . HE HELPED ME IN SO MANY WAYS. HE ALSO PAINTED A POTRAIT OF MY MOTHER AFTER SHE WAS DECEASED FROM A SMALL PHOTO THAT HANGS IN OUR HOME. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. MARY FRANCES INGRAM

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