Richard Penna, Former BOV Member, Dies

Retired from AACP and APHA, Penna was a true advocate for the School of Pharmacy and the profession

By Becky Ceraul
September 8, 2011

Richard (Dick) P. Penna, 75, died August 16, from brain cancer. Penna was born in Palo Alto, California in 1935, and received a PharmD degree from the University of California, San Francisco in 1959. He practiced community pharmacy for eight years and taught pharmacy practice at his alma mater for five years. He joined the staff of what was then the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) in 1966 as executive secretary of the APhA Academy of General Practice of Pharmacy.

In his 18 years at APhA, Dick established liaisons with a number of national health professional organizations and served as vice president for professional affairs. Dick joined the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in 1985, retiring as its executive vice president in 2002. In 2002, he received the pharmacy profession’s distinguished Remington Honor Medal from APhA.

“As chair of our board of visitors, Dick was instrumental in helping to secure funding for our new Pharmacy Hall,” says Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, professor and dean of the School of Pharmacy. “He visited the Maryland General Assembly on several occasions to champion our need with state legislators, and could be counted on to convey the importance of our School in serving the health care needs of the citizens of Maryland. He was always quick with valuable input and sage advice and was a stalwart supporter of the pharmacy profession and our School.”

According to an obituary, Penna was an accomplished pharmacist and wine maker. His Antietam Vineyard produced award winning varieties of red and white wines. During his retirement, he served as chair of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Maryland Wine and Grape Growing Board and shared his talents providing classes to novice winemakers.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Penna; brothers Albert, Larry, and Peter Penna; daughters Terri Kemmerer and Anna Penna; son Richard Penna, and five grandchildren.

A memorial service was held August 27.