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FORMER VP, DEAN DR. THADDEUS PENAR DIES |
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February 03, 2010
GROVE CITY, Pa. – Dr. Thaddeus H. “Ted” Penar, former vice president of academic affairs, dean of the College and professor of education at Grove City College, died Feb. 1, 2010.
A Butler, Pa., native born March 1, 1920, Penar worked at Grove City College from 1953-90. After retirement, he was chosen in 1991 to become interim president of Butler County Community College. He was later named president and served there until he retired again in 1994.
A 1942 graduate of Grove City College, Penar served in the Air Force from 1943-46. He taught for several years at Kittanning and Butler high schools, joining Grove City College in 1952 as an assistant professor of education. After a year, he was promoted to full professor and later made chairman of the Department of Education. He was appointed registrar in 1960 while continuing to teach part-time.
In 1965, he was honored as “Pennsylvania Business Teacher of the Year” by the Pennsylvania Business Education Association. He served that organization as president in 1958 and served as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Liberal Arts Colleges for the Advancement of Teaching in 1963. He was a member of the executive council of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
Grove City named Penar vice president for business affairs in 1972. In 1976, he was appointed vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. In 1988, he began serving as senior adviser to the Middle States Reaccreditation Project and to the President’s Office, while continuing as College and alumni treasurer.
The College honored Penar with a Jack Kennedy Alumni Achievement Award in 1984 for his contributions to the field of education. He received the Florence E. MacKenzie Campus-Community Award in 1987. He was president of both the Grove City Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, and taught a Sunday School class for many years at East Main Presbyterian Church, where he also served as an elder. He was involved with the Grove City Industrial Development Corporation, Penn Northwest Development Corporation and First Seneca Bank Development Board.
The College had just honored Penar on Jan. 30, 2010, with an Athletic Heritage Award as part of the Athletic Hall of Fame ceremonies.
An athlete, Penar was inducted into Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He lettered in both football and track at Butler High School, graduating in 1938. He participated in same two sports while a student at Grove City College. He started the cross country program at Kittanning High School while teaching there and later served as an assistant track coach at Butler High School. Beginning in 1955, he coached Grove City College’s cross country team for five years. In 1957, the team was Tri-State champions.
Penar received both his master’s and doctoral degrees in education at the University of Pittsburgh.
He was married to Marie (McMunigle ’42) Penar, who passed away July 5, 2007. Surviving are son Robert Penar ’72; three daughters, Nancy (Penar ’70) Houston, Martha (Penar ’74) Drobnak and Carolyn (Penar ’78) Wood; a brother; nine grandchildren, including Stacy Houston ’93; and a great-grandson. Daughters Houston and Drobnak both served as faculty members at Grove City College.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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