William H Penn

Will was born in Delmar, NY to Anita Court Penn and Everett Sleet Penn on August 21, 1937. He married is soulmate, Shirah S Penn on January 23, 1977. He had already been married to his first wife, Grace and his second wife, Rosa Alcantara. He had two children with Rosa; Nicholas Penn and Tanya Penn Moreno. He created a blended family with Shirah’s two children from a previous marriage; Meryl Heilberg Jefferson and Adam Heilberg. He served in the Air Force, Coast Guard and the Army starting in 1960. He served three tours in Vietnam and was awarded two Purple Hearts during his service. He retired from the Army and served as representative for Social Security for 15 years, until retirement. He converted to Judaism in 1997 in preparation for his marriage to Shirah. Also, he belonged to a spiritual movement; MSIA (Movement for Spiritual Inner Awareness). With that, he was also a member of The Rotary Club.

Will is survived by his spouse, Shirah S. Penn; his children; Meryl, Adam, Nicholas and Tanya; his grandchildren Marissa, Joanne, Xavier, Devin, Zoe. Also, he has four greatgrandchildren; Fox, Daisy, Lucy, and Charlie. He was very proud of his family who stood by him until the very end.

Will chose not to have a Celebration of Life, but to be remembered as a peace-loving man who accepted everything that life had to offer.

He lived his life on the words of the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change,

The COURAGE to change the things I can, and the WISDOM

to know the difference.