Steven Penka

HOLDEN/RUTLAND - Steven Penka, 58, of Holden and recently of Athol and Rutland, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, due to brain cancer.

Steve leaves his loving wife of 37 years, Ruth Ann (Gengel) Penka, who he always said was the kindest and most beautiful woman in his life. Steve also leaves his son, Jeb S. Penka and the love of Jeb’s life, Courtney Doherty, both of Boston. Jeb graduated cum laude in May 2012 from Suffolk Law School, passed the Massachusetts Bar in October 2012 and opened an independent legal practice specializing in civil litigation. He also leaves his mother, Jane Penka, of Rancho Mirage CA; two younger sisters, Ann Penka of Palm Springs CA and Kris Youngs and her husband Stephen in Yucaipa CA; his nephew, Ted Stoner of Palm Springs, CA. Steve also leaves behind many loved in-laws including Catherine Gengel, Christine Steinwand and Jo Anne Shatkin, Joan Gengel-Pentland, Susan and Jerry Kusy, Stephen and Linda Gengel, Carol Gengel and Len and Cherylann Gengel. Steve also leaves many loved nephews and nieces, Josh Steinwand, Nicole Kalagher, Patrick Kalagher, Thomas Gengel, Jillian Pentland, Sarah Gengel, Ross Pentland, Anna Gengel, Vanessa Kusy, Shelley Gengel, Bernie Gengel and Richard Gengel. Steve was very grateful for their warm caring and attention given to him and Ruth. Steve also leaves his loved grand-nieces Ellah and Kaylee Kalagher and Skylar Pentland. He was predeceased by his father, Norman Penka; Ruth’s parents, Bernard and Winifred (Fleming) Gengel; his special niece, Britney Gengel, who lost her life three years ago during the horrible earthquake in Haiti.

The names of the many friends, youth activities peers and business associates are too voluminous to mention and there exists too much chance to forget someone and hurt someone’s feelings. Therefore, please know you are all acknowledged and are thanked for your support and friendship these many years.

Steve was born in Great Bend Kansas and moved with his family to California in 1957 where they eventually settled in Cathedral City right outside of Palm Springs. Steve was always involved in youth and high school baseball which culminated in his senior year with a starting position at first base for the Palm Springs High School baseball team. Steve graduated in 1972 and joined the U.S. Navy within the next month. Steve met his future bride at his first duty station in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was a sailor and she was a civilian clerk working at the Naval Submarine Training Center. Steve volunteered for submarine duty, was accepted to the Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. After training, Steve was assigned as a radioman third class aboard the USS Stonewall Jackson. He earned Submarine Service designation and after completing various missions, Steve finished his commitment to the Navy, and was honorably discharged as a Radioman 2nd class petty officer in July, 1976.

It was during his time stationed on the USS Stonewall Jackson that the romance between Steve and Ruth continued to develop and culminated with their being married July 31, 1976, two weeks after Steve was discharged from the Navy. For the next four to six years, Steve and Ruth pursued their undergraduate degrees. Steve received his Bachelor of Science in medical technology from Anna Maria College in Paxton, while Ruth was awarded her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Worcester State College. Jeb was born in June 1982. After working 2 years at Worcester City Hospital, Steve was accepted to Duke University’s Master in Health Administration program. The family moved to Durham, NC. Ruth took a job at University of North Carolina and Steve worked as many shifts as he could get at Duke University Medical Center.

He graduated in 1985 and the family moved to Palm Springs, CA where Steve spent the year as an administrative fellow at Eisenhower Medical Center. At the end of that academic year, the family moved to Lancaster, CA where Steve became the Director of Alternative Delivery Systems for three years for a 350-bed hospital. During that time Ruth obtained her Master’s degree in history from the University of California, Riverside.

In 1989, the family moved to Rutland. Steve became the Associate Administrator of Fallon Clinic until 2002. For thirteen years, Steve helped move Fallon Clinic forward in its drive to be a preeminent medical group in a primarily managed care setting. His responsibilities included ancillary and support service at Fallon Clinic, Associate Vice President at St. Vincent Hospital, facility planning for the clinic and St. Vincent Hospital.

During his off hours, Steve was very involved in youth sports, coaching and serving as Rutland Little League president for a number of years. He also served as a Rutland representative for three years on the Wachusett Regional School District Committee.

He left Fallon in 2002 and joined Wachusett Regional School District as the Director of Administrative Services. He was in charge of Human Resources, Materials Management, Facility Planning, Maintenance and Engineering, Food Services, Transportation Services, Information Technology and Security. During those three years, the district completed three new schools and initiated the renovation of the high school.

In 2005, Athol Memorial Hospital hired Steve as President and CEO. The family moved to Athol in 2007. The hospital continued to be profitable for the first two years and broke even the third year. Unfortunately, the recession hit the hospital pretty hard, but Steve, the Board of Trustees, medical staff, hospital management and staff joined together to make changes that kept the hospital alive and viable. Examples of efforts included changing the corporate structure to a Critical Access hospital, was designated as a Primary Stroke Service, changing radiology equipment to digital format, replacing endoscopy equipment, establishing additional site in Phillipston, establishing offsite phlebotomy station, recruiting additional physicians, signed a contract with the St. Vincent Emergency Physicians group to provide emergency room services, installed a community health center site in Orange and expanded within 18 months of its opening through reduction in open positions, reducing and moving of existing hours, reduced expenses in supplies and contracts. Finally, the hospital completed planning for a new emergency room.

Unfortunately, Steve’s brain cancer diagnosis required Steve to resign from Athol Memorial Hospital in July 2012 and caused the family to move to Holden for family support issues.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Sunday, April 21, from 3 to 7 p.m., in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Steve’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 22, at St. John’s Church, 44 Temple Street, Worcester. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Steve’s name to Be Like Brit, P.O. Box 355, Rutland, MA 01543, or donate on-line at www.belikebrit.com , the non-profit organization maintained in honor of Steve’s beloved niece.

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