Ralph Penny ’63

Class Notes
Class of 1963
Posted on April 11, 2023

Published by Greenwich Sentinel from Mar. 24 to Mar. 30, 2023.
RALPH PENNY OBITUARY
Ralph Everett Penny, 77, of Greenwich, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 10, at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NY with loved ones by his side. Ralph was born on September 15, 1945, in White Plains, NY, the son of the late Everett Joshua Penny and Helen Margaret Penny.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ann, his devoted stepdaughters Kristen Bozza and her husband, Larry Gellman and Kerry and her husband, Kurt Funkhouser; his older brother John (Janet) and his twin sister, Bonnie Verses. Additionally, he is survived by nieces Dana Schmidt (Mike), Lisa Hammell; Janet McNamara (Michael), Debbie James (Tom), Linda Kiggins (Tim), Elizabeth Lautrup (Drew); and nephews Bill Penny (Idiannia) and Hugh Seton. Ralph was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law William and Vivian.

Ralph graduated from Deerfield Academy (Deerfield, MA) in 1963. Majoring in History, he then earned his BA from Denison University (Granville, OH). In 1972, Ralph earned his MBA from Columbia Business School in NY.

After college, Ralph enlisted in the US Navy and was on active duty from 1967-1970. During that time, he went on two deployments to Vietnam. From 1990 to 1997 he was in the Naval Reserve Active Duty, serving on the USS Valdez and as Commanding Officer of the USS Boulder. Ralph honorably served in the Naval Reserve for 30 years, retiring as a Captain.

Over the years, Ralph’s volunteer commitments were varied and meaningful. To list just a few, he was President of the White Plains Rotary; Chair of the YMCA of Central and N. Westchester; Board Member of the Westchester College Foundation; President of Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, Scarsdale; Board Member of the Visiting Nurse Service of Westchester; led services as a Deacon at North Greenwich Congregational Church; and was District 11 Representative for the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting.

Life doesn’t offer many guarantees, except maybe for these: If music were playing, Ralph would be dancing, if people were gathering, Ralph would be mixing and mingling, if you needed a hug, he’d be hugging, if you needed an ice cream, he’d be buying, and if you needed a friend, he’d always be there!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the Alumni Association?

Upon graduating from Deerfield, alumni enter a diverse network of former Deerfield students. Deerfield alumni have ventured into almost every area of employment, and many are at the top of their respective fields. The advantages of this vast network are numerous and significant, as every member of the Deerfield family receives the following:

Automatic subscription to Deerfield Magazine
Online subscription to the Deerfield Scroll
Access to the Deerfield Mobile App and directory
Invitations to special events both on and off campus
Eligibility for membership in a number of recognition societies

Alumni are also eligible for alumni awards, such as the Ashley Award, Heritage Award, and the Mimi Morsman Award.

As a member of the Alumni Association, do I have dues?

There are no membership fees or dues for members of the Deerfield family, but Deerfield does ask for assistance in a few areas. First of all, in order for Deerfield to have the most up-to-date records possible, we encourage members to keep us apprised of their current contact info. Alumni are also urged to direct all concerns and suggestions regarding Deerfield’s operations through the Executive Committee, the governing body of the Alumni Association. The committee acts as the voice of the alumni body, and works closely with the school administration. In order to keep tuition affordable and the quality of a Deerfield education at its highest, the Academy depends upon the continuing support of alumni and their families. This support can take the form of annual or capital gifts, or time spent volunteering on behalf of Deerfield.

How can I network with other alumni in my area?

There are Deerfield Clubs in many major American cities. Please visit here for more information on specific clubs and their sponsored events.

As a Deerfield alum, am I invited to campus athletic events and performances?

Of course! Be sure to read the latest issue of From Albany Road in your email’s in-box for current news of what is happening on campus. As we also send out periodic invitations, it’s always best to make sure we have your current physical address. And if you do plan on visiting campus, why not tell us ahead of time?

Contact the Office of Advancement

alumni@deerfield.edu
413-774-1474

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 306
Deerfield, MA 01342

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 87, Deerfield, MA 01342

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: Deerfield Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.