Captain Alvin E. Penny
Lifelong Hampton Bays resident Captain Alvin E. Penny died at his home on March 30. He was 90.
Born March 20, 1921, to Alexander and Allene (Squires) Penny in Good Ground, now Hampton Bays, Capt. Penny was a descendent of some of the first settlers in Good Ground.
In 1946, Capt. Penny crossed the equator on his way to the Arctic Circle, crossed the international dateline, and on January 15, 1947, he journeyed into the Bay of Whales. Six months later he married Elaine Roach on July 5.
Capt. Penny performed faithfully in the U.S. Coast Guard for more than 33 years, reaching the chief warrant officer rank, and was stationed at Shinnecock Station in Hampton Bays. His family connection to the Coast Guard and Life Saving Station Service goes back several generations. He also worked for the Southampton Town Highway Department as a highway foreman for many years.
Capt. Penny loved the Coast Guard and the sea. As a young boy he had his own sailboat and became fond of lighthouses. He would later spend his time visiting lighthouses around the U.S. and had an affinity for anything nautical. Always wearing his captain’s hat, many knew him by “Capt. Al.” His favorite place to spend his free time was at Shinnecock Bay Fishing Station and Marina where he had his own corner. Capt. Penny had great knowledge of Hampton Bays and loved the community.
For many years he belonged to the Westhampton Potunk Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, the Hand Aldrich American Legion, the Quogue VFW, the Southampton Elks, the Southampton Republican Committee, and once served as president of the Hampton Bays Board of Education. He always took care of others. At 15, he would start up the furnace at the Hampton Bays United Methodist Church so people would be warm for services. More recently, he donated U.S. Life Saving Service items to the Lewes Historical Society in Delaware and donated artifacts to Delaware State Parks.
He was a very strong and proud man who loved the sea, people, and his family. He will be missed, survivors said.
His friends at Shinnecock Bay Fishing Station and Marina will be placing a plaque in his memory on the anchor he donated to the establishment.
He is survived by his daughter Kathleen Penny Karzenski; siblings, Esmond (Pete) Penny and his wife Ruth, Paul Penny and his wife Joy, and Jean McConnell, all of Hampton Bays; a sister-in-law, Melissa Penny of Hampton Bays; granddaughter Rachel Kundrat and her son, Capt. Penny’s great-grandson, Daniel of Hampton Bays; grandson Ryan Karzenski of Hampton Bays; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife Elaine (Roach) Penny; daughter Patricia Penny; brother Brian Penny, and brother-in-law Daniel McConnell.
Visiting hours were held at the J. Ronald Scott Funeral Home on Thursday, March 31. A funeral Mass, officiated by the Rev. Daniel Harris, was held at the funeral home on Friday, April 1. Interment followed at Good Ground Cemetery. Military honors were provided by members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Shinnecock Station.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978-7048, and the Hampton Bays Library, 52 Ponquogue Avenue, Hampton Bays, NY 11946, would be appreciated by the family.
on Apr 6, 2011