Glenn Padnick

September 8, 1947 - February 27, 2025 Glenn Padnick, whose passion for movies and television brought about decade-defining sitcoms, including the iconic show "Seinfeld," died February 27, 2025, at age 77, surrounded by his wife and children. Although Glenn lived with a rare disease for 25 years, he never let it define him.
Glenn was born September 8, 1947 in Brooklyn and grew up in Farmingdale, New York. Glenn was a first-generation college student and the first from his high school to attend Harvard College. He wrote for The Harvard Crimson and expected a career in journalism.
In 1968, Glenn married his high school girlfriend Eleanor Rimai and began reporting for Long Island's Newsday. After a year of being a reporter, he entered Harvard Law School and was on the Harvard Law Review. While in law school, Glenn wrote TV movie blurbs for the Boston Herald Traveler.
Upon graduation, Glenn moved to Los Angeles to join O'Melveny and Myers' Entertainment Department. After a year of writing contracts for Norman Lear's shows, Glenn was recruited by Alan Horn to serve as Lear's in-house legal counsel. Glenn agreed on the condition that he be given an opportunity to work on the creative side of television. Glenn transitioned to television executive and went on to produce canonical comedy shows of the 1980s and 1990s: "Diff'rent Strokes," "Who's the Boss
," "The Facts of Life" and "Married With Children." Glenn co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment, and as President of Television, he developed "Seinfeld." Glenn's distinctive laugh can be heard in almost every episode.
Glenn was a family man in word and deed. He took care of their young children, Susan, Steven and Robert, while Eleanor attended UCLA Dental School. This was an uniquely egalitarian approach to marriage for that time. He drove carpools, cheered at all his childrens' weekend games and organized Fun Family Outings, "FFOs" ("fun" being a relative word, depending on which family member you ask).
Glenn retired from full-time work in 2003 because of a rare illness, Erdheim Chester Disease. But he never let his chronic medical issues - including a kidney transplant made possible by his son Robert - diminish his zest for life.
Glenn's lifelong goal was to visit every USA National Park Service site. At last count, he had visited 398 sites and recorded every visit with a stamp in his National Park Passport. He believed that he had to drag his reluctant family and friends along, but in truth, everyone enjoyed the adventure of seeing America through his eyes. Glenn's love of our National Parks led him to serve on the board of the National Parks Conservation Association for many years.
Sunday poker with show tunes and Thursday trips to local casinos (and Gus' Fried Chicken) were weekly favorites. Glenn organized yearly road trips with his poker friends, combining gambling, BBQ, National Parks and usually a visit to a local emergency room. He also loved baseball, rooting for the Angels but sharing season tickets to the Dodgers.
Glenn was known to have a savant-like knowledge of classic movie trivia. Watching black-and-white films with his dog at his feet was a favorite pastime.
Padnick is survived by his wife Eleanor, daughter Susan (Chris Cohen), son Steven (Sara Hames), son Robert (Sarah Wick), six grandchildren, sisters Dale Braunschweig and Jill Martin, nieces and nephew and loving cousins and friends, and countless others who will truly appreciate Glenn whenever they hear his laugh.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Glenn's honor to the National Parks Conservation Association or the Erdheim Chester Global Alliance.