We are sad to learn that Anne Pennock passed away on July 13, 2025 in her 90th year. Anne was a member of our club for 30 years, from 1992 to 2022, finally retiring due to health concerns. As a past president of our club (2006-2007) and a highly active member for so many years, she was honoured with our “Member For Life” designation following her retirement.
In her working life, Anne was the owner of Clavis Software Inc., a company that produced technology solutions and mobile apps, amongst other services. She was an early groundbreaker as a woman in the field.
Anne came from St. Thomas, Ontario to study at “MAC”, the Macdonald Institute (now University of Guelph). She met Paul Pennock, the love of her life, while they were both on campus from 1953-1958. Paul was from Concord, New Hampshire and graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in 1958.
Anne (nee West) and Paul Pennock had a marvellous Christmas wedding in 1958 and celebrated their 63rd anniversary before Paul passed away in 2022. They built a loving family and are survived by their daughter Deborah (Salvador Medina), son David (Sonia Bebbington) and grandchildren Owen, Mateo, Jacob and Bronwen.
Anne and Paul were very active members of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Guelph.
Like Anne, Paul joined the Rotary Club of Guelph, about one year after Anne and was no doubt recommended by her. He remained an active member for 29 years. Paul was well known in our community for his 40+ year relationship with OVC, first as a student, then as a veterinarian and eventually as a veterinary radiologist and professor. Paul is remembered on our website here. After retiring from Rotary, Paul was also designated by our club as a “Member For Life”.
Anne and Paul were very active in Rotary. They regularly attended our Friday club meetings, and they intentionally sat at different tables to meet different people. They were outstanding role models and trusted mentors to many new Rotarians, quietly encouraging and providing helpful insights based on past experience and ideas for the future.
Unassuming and quiet, Anne was a power house and a stickler for details. She did the club's weekly bulletins and arranged for the bulletins to be printed and delivered to us by a charity that supported developmentally challenged adults, thus providing one individual with a “job” that lasted for several years. She was our Club Secretary for seven years and coached our current Secretary, Kerry Johnson, to take over the role so that she could join our Board. She served as our Club President in 2006-2007 and preferred hosting the club's board meetings in their home rather than at a place of business.
Anne and Paul hosted Guess Who's Coming To Dinner for many years. They also took charge of the club's Archive collection - sorting, organizing, and even hosting “Archive Sorting/Purging Parties” in their home. Along the way, they welcomed Rotary Student Exchange participants and made lasting friendships with some of them, later being invited to their weddings.
Anne and Paul could alway be counted on. For example, at a time when our club members volunteered to drive Hospice clients to appointments, they were the fallback position if another driver couldn't make it due to another commitment. And there are many, many other examples of their Rotary service.
Anne and Paul will long be remembered amongst the Rotary Club of Guelph ‘greats’ that helped build and sustain the good work of our club.
A warm, detailed obituary is on Guelph Today here. https://www.guelphtoday.com/obituaries/pennock-anne-10942034
Friends and family were received for a memorial visitation at the Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel, 206 Norfolk Street, Guelph on Friday, July 18, 2025 from 2-4pm.
Thanks to Kerry Johnson and Rosemary Clark for their input to this piece. Rosemary and Anne were students together at MAC. By the way, our fellow Rotarian Helmuth Slisarenko will be pleased to know that Anne was on the girls' curling team at university!