William Fredrick Pank

William Fredrick Pank
William Fredrick "Rick" Pank, 88, of Norwalk, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Born in Medford, Massachusetts, Rick spent most of his childhood in Rye, New York, with his brother Christopher. Rick graduated from Rye High School in 1954, where he captained the cross-country and track teams, took to the stage for school plays, and sang in the chorus. He later graduated from Wesleyan University and earned a law degree from New York University. Rick worked his entire professional career at Chase Manhattan Bank, rising to Vice President of Aerospace before retiring in January 1995. He also proudly served in the Army Reserves.
Rick and his future wife, Brenda Humble, played tennis on their first date, a precursor of their active life to come. They married on November 24, 1962, and moved to Rowayton, CT, in 1967 to start a family. Because they were always together, whether it be on bicycles, out walking, or attending town events, they were known to some as "The Swans".
A lifelong music lover, Rick boasted an extensive music collection spanning a wide range of musical genres, from Beethoven and Bach to Scott Joplin, Woody Guthrie, and Pete Seeger, all of which were meticulously catalogued. Certain national anthems and school fight songs, as well as bagpipes, gave Rick goose bumps. He was a devoted Boston sports fan, especially of the Red Sox. Two of his favorite places on earth were Tanglewood and Fenway Park.
No single image can capture the full range of his interests and activities. He played tennis and paddle tennis; he pitched for The Whales softball team; he loved to fish off his boat with his family, and he rode bikes, rowed, and kayaked. He coached his kids' sports teams and followed his grandchildren's teams closely. Upon retiring, Rick took up photography, winning some ribbons and selling some prints, too.
Despite travelling the world, Rowayton was home for Rick Pank – it was the place he cherished the most. He loved local traditions and could often be found at Easter Sunrise Service, the Nativity Pageant, or the Memorial Day parade.
Rick volunteered his time to the Rowayton Historical Society, Rowayton Arts Center, and The Emig Foundation.
He is survived by his wife Brenda; sons William and Andrew (Mariaelena); grandchildren Natalie and Alexander; brother Christopher (MaryAnn); niece Julie Kelly; and nieces and nephews Cathy, Jack, Jeff, and Steve. Services will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rowayton Arts Center: https://rowaytonarts.org or Grassroots Tennis & Education https://www.grassrootste.org/