Ronald Jack Penick

Ronald Jack Penick, age 87, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico for 43 years, died Saturday, December 5, 2020 following a stroke and 9 years of advancing Alzheimer’s disease.

Jack was born in Dover, Ohio and grew up loving the outdoors. He was the first in his family to attend college, Miami University in Oxford, OH, and earned his PhD in Biochemistry from Ohio State University. He served 22 years in the United States Air Force with assignments in Sacramento, CA doing nuclear research, in Colorado Springs, CO as a professor of chemistry at the US Air Force Academy, and in Albuquerque at Kirtland Air Force Base directing high-energy laser research programs. His final military assignment was at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio where he represented the United States alongside representatives from four partnering NATO countries reconciling the financial accounting for the F-16 development program. After retirement from the Air Force, he moved to Thousand Oaks, California where he worked for Rockwell International in their high-energy laser research program. Three years later, Rockwell located him to Albuquerque to open up their Rocketdyne Division. Shortly thereafter, he and his wife, Catherine, opened The Party Barn, Albuquerque’s first party supply stores.  That was so much fun he left his career in R&D and joined Cathy in their retail adventure. Sixteen years later they sold the stores, and at the age of 65, Jack retired to his hobbies of woodworking, fly-fishing, gardening, photography and cooking the best meals ever!

Jack never met a stranger and loved having family, friends, and neighbors in his home. Jack was kind, gentle and never judgmental; as a result, everyone, young and old, loved him.  He was a simple and a wise man that took great joy in advising, teaching, or counseling anyone who needed him. He valued each person for their individuality and appreciated his or her unique qualities.  Jack loved an adventure and enjoyed traveling and exploring other cultures.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 43 years, Catherine Penick; his sister, Saundra Meese; his children, Perry Penick and spouse, Mary Hanrahan; daughter, Pamela Penick; daughter, Shelly Johnson and husband, Paul Johnson; son, Michael Penick; daughter, Katherine Penick and husband, Randall Dorin; three grandchildren, Lauryn Miller, Chelsea Penick, and Timothy Bruhn; a great-granddaughter, Brooke Penick, a large extended family and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Dennis and Bertha Penick, sister Shyrlie Galanga, and brother Loren Penick.

The following poem by Robert Louis Stevenson perfectly describes Jack.  He will be deeply missed by his family and friends through whom his stories and legacy will live on.

That Man is a Success

That Man is a Success
Who has lived well,
laughed often and loved much;
Who has gained the respect
of intelligent men and the love of children;
Who has filled his niche
and accomplished his task;
Who leaves the world better than he found it,
whether by an improved poppy or a perfect poem or a rescued soul;
Who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty
or failed to express it;
Who looked for the best in others
and gave the best he had.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and travel concerns, a memorial service will be held at a later date.

Donations in Jack’s memory can be made to the Roadrunner Foodbank at http://www.rrfb.org or your local food bank to help families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.