Ronald Earl Pennick

March 18, 1959-December 2, 2019

Ronald Earl Pennick came into this world on March 18, 1959, to the union of Henry and Earline Pennick. He was the fifth child born to Henry and Earline, and became the most athletic of all. We nicknamed him, “Poonie”, and his mother called him, “Little Man”. He could run like the wind and would always run instead of walk and this earned him many honors. When he graduated from the CVS High School he earned a football scholarship to Indiana University and the University of Hawaii. Ron was also recruited by the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys but preferred not to play, saying, “I was tired of getting my bell rung”. In May 2019, he was inducted into the CVS Alumni Hall of Fame.

Poonie was born into, baptized, and raised up in the St. Mary’s Baptist Church on 63rd Street in Englewood (Chicago), pastored by the founder Rev. J.J. Warren. He moved to Minneapolis in 1994, and 10 days later met Sue Bartolutti, who he married in 2005. Ron and Sue relocated to Madison, WI in the summer of 2019. Ron worked as a pharmacy technician for almost 20 years, most recently at Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis, and then at SSM Hospital in Madison. While at Fairview, he served as vice president of AFSCME Local 1164.

After retiring as an athlete, he participated as an informed spectator. In particular, he continued to enjoy football, basketball, and horse racing. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, journeying to Italy on three separate occasions.

Ron’s storied athletic accomplishments are far overshadowed by his personal qualities. He has been universally recognized by family, friends, colleagues, teammates, and neighbors as a good man with a big heart and a ready smile, someone who brought fun and humor to any situation, a wise elder, and a leader who transcended differences. He loved hard and was loved much in return.

God called Poonie home on Monday, December 2, 2019. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Sue Bartolutti; daughters, Rachel Chanel Pennick and Master Sergeant Kristin Joi Taylor; granddaughter, Rain Natalya Gipson; siblings, Cynthia Pennick, Roderick Pennick, and Andre (Selwyn) Payne; father-in-law, Dave Bartolutti; brothers-in-law, Tom Bartolutti, Mark Bartolutti, and Greg (Grace) Bartolutti; and a host of relatives and dear friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his father and mother; brothers, Henry Jr. and Mickey Sr.; favorite auntie, Thelma Jones; niece, Kellianne Pennick; and mother-in-law, Mary Bart.