John C. Pennoyer, 81, of Hopewell Junction, passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2023 at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco, NY. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

Born in Orange, NJ, he was the son of Douglas Huntington Pennoyer and Gerda Selling Pennoyer. After graduating from Chatham High School in New Jersey, he went on to get his bachelor's from Brown University and his master's and doctorate in history from the University of Denver. A dedicated and visionary educator, John started his career as a high school history teacher in Colorado, where the mountains he loved served as a backdrop to his passion for inspiring a love of learning in his students. He went on to become an educational administrator, first as a high school principal and assistant superintendent in Illinois, then as a school superintendent in districts in New Jersey and Colorado, until he retired after 15 years as superintendent of Dutchess County B.O.C.E.S.

A humanitarian and proponent of social justice, John was a major benefactor to broad and diverse causes, committed to understanding and addressing the systems that promote intolerance. He was a music lover and enjoyed playing his clarinet all throughout his life, and an avid gardener known for growing the perfect tomato.

John loved his family deeply and was an attentive and proud grandfather. He is survived by his beloved partner, Roberta Wiener, also of Hopewell Junction, his two children, Jacki and Rob, his daughter-in-law, Staci, and his three grandchildren, Roan, Ben, and Sam.