A. Samuel Penn, automobile leasing executive, dies

A. Samuel Penn, a retired automobile leasing executive, died of complications from cancer April 18 at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson. The Pikesville resident was 81.

Born in Baltimore, he was the son of Sol Penn, an owner of Penn Brothers Chrysler Plymouth, and Pauline Sachs.

Raised on Belvieu Avenue, he was a 1953 graduate of Forest Park High School, where he played lacrosse and football.

While in high school, he met his future wife, Beverly Max.

He served in the Army during the 1950s.

He earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. He later took executive training courses at Harvard, Stanford, MIT and Northwestern universities.

Mr. Penn worked in the family auto business selling cars at their Reisterstown Road agency until 1969. He then joined Peterson Howell and Heather, an auto leasing firm, where he was executive vice president. He retired in 1990.

In 1991, then-Gov. William D. Schaefer named him to the Governor's Insurance Commission to study issues in that industry. He was also named deputy state insurance commissioner.

Family members said Mr. Penn wanted to give back to the community after he retired. He taught at Notre Dame of Maryland and Towson universities, and was an executive-in-residence at Towson.

He was fond of vacationing at Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Mr. Penn served on the boards of the old Union Trust Co., later Signet Bank; the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Baltimore County Child Care Agency; the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Visitors Board; the Baltimore Jewish Council; Sinai Hospital-Lifebridge Health; Maryland Hospital Association and WYPR

He was a member of Beth El Congregation.

Services were held April 20 at Sol Levinson and Bros.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, a Baltimore County public school teacher and staff developer; three sons, Mitchel Penn of Reisterstown, Brian Penn of Owings Mills and Eddie Penn of New York City; and four grandchildren.

—Jacques Kelly