Elgar John Pennington, Jr.
COLORADO — April 21, 2009, Jack Pennington (Elgar John Pennington, Jr.) died peacefully at age 88 in Grand Junction, Colorado where he had been living with Helen Haas, his partner of more than twenty years.

Jack is survived by three children and a grandson, Bill Pennington, 58, of Galveston, John Pennington, 64, of Wayne, New Jersey, Susan Cassanelli, 61, of Havertown, Pennsylvania; and her son David Cassanelli, 19, who is attending Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Jack was predeceased by his wife Mary Jane and his son Charles, both of whom died in the early 1980’s. He graduated from El Paso High School and then the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He moved to Galveston when his job on the design team of the Norden bombsight ended at the close of World War II. He was especially proud of this, his first job out of college, because the bombsight enabled Allied bombers to fly so much higher that casualties over Germany fell from 50% to 15%.

The Pennington family made their home at 1709 Rosenberg for about twenty years. In the late 1950’s, Jack took over the Pennington Buick Co. from his father. He was very active in community affairs, serving as president of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Red Cross volunteers, and leading fund raising efforts for the United Fund and Trinity Episcopal Church.

Mary Jane Pennington, Jack’s wife “Midge,” was instrumental in founding the Trinity School. Later she finished college at the University of Houston and began teaching English at Ball High School. The Menefees, Midge’s mother’s family, go way back in Texas. And the Pennington children are fond of claiming ancestors who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and fought at the Alamo. However, the research done by Bill (William Menefee Pennington) has been unable to prove anything specific.

Virtually every summer weekend the Penningtons could be found sailing small craft and barbecuing at the Boat Club on Offats Bayou. They were often joined there by the John Moore, Junior Jenkins, and Wallace Newton families – as well as many other friends.

Jack joined the Hughes Tool Company in Houston shortly before leaving Galveston. This job took the family to Houma, Louisiana; Laurel and Jackson, Mississippi; Duluth, Minnesota; and lastly, Denver, Colorado. Wherever he lived, Jack was known for a positive attitude and a good sense of humor. His children remember him for always being there with encouragement, a hug, and a joke, as well as reminders that honesty and happiness are more important than money.

A short funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on May 9, at Trinity Church. The family will be available afterwards with refreshments for an hour or two and requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.


Published May 3, 2009

The Daily News, Galveston, Texas