Dr. Penny Sappington

1966 - 2025

Dr. Penny Lynn Sappington, 59, of Venetia, Pennsylvania, formerly of Frederick, MD, passed from this life on Friday, June 6, 2025 at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.

She was the loving mother to her daughter, Dulce Sappington. Born on April 11, 1966, in Frederick, MD, she was the daughter of Brenda (Butler) Sappington and the late David Jerome Sappington.

Penny graduated from Brunswick High School, Class of 1984. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biological Sciences from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1989. Dr. Sappington received her Medical Degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in 1994. From 1994 through 1997, she completed a three-year residency in Internal Medicine at Howard University in Washington, DC. Subsequently, she completed a two-year fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC (1997-1999). This was followed by a fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (1999-2000).

Dr. Sappington joined the team at UPMC as part of the Critical Care Medical faculty in July 2000 as an Assistant Professor of Critical Care Medicine in the Department of Critical Care Medicine. Following a 20-year tenure at UPMC, she joined the team at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV, where she was the Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Critical Care and the Medical Director of Transplant Critical Care. Additionally, she was the Medical Director, CTICU, UPMC, Associate Professor of Medicine; and Medical Director of Transplant Critical Care, WVU Heart & Vascular Institute. Dr. Sappington held certifications with the American Board of Internal Medicine - Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine.

Dr. Sappington loved her family and patients. She demonstrated unwavering dedication to her family, friends, and those under her care. Dr. Sappington generously shared her time and expertise and exhibited exceptional compassion and a remarkable capacity for giving to others.

Penny was an advocate for education and believed in accessible quality education for everyone. She was an avid sports lover, especially basketball which she played during her high school and college years.

Penny enjoyed watching the Food Network Channel and was a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Dr. Sappington was well-respected by her colleagues in the medical field and was adored and loved by her family members and many friends. Penny will be greatly missed.

In addition to her daughter, Dulce, and mother, Brenda, Penny is survived by two brothers, David Jerome Sappington Ill and wife, Tamala, and Mitchell Lee Butler and wife, Shirley. She is also survived by her aunts Virginia Duppins, Sandra Hooper, and her uncle Wilbur Butler Jr., two nieces, one nephew, four great-nieces, and one great-nephew. Additionally, Penny is survived by extended family and friends.

Dr. Sappington is also remembered by her numerous colleagues and friends from UPMC and JW Ruby Memorial Hospital. Additionally, she is survived by her beloved family pets Gerdie, Persephone, Ecmo, and Gatsby.

She is predeceased by her father, David J. Sappington; her aunt, Barbara Carroll; her uncle, Van Butler; and her niece, Tiara Butler.

A celebration of Penny's life journey will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Stauffer Funeral Homes, P.A., 1621 Opossumtown Pike in Frederick, MD, with Rev. Kaye Coates officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m.

Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society by visiting donate.cancer.org.

Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com. Dr. Penny Sappington