Samuel Charles Pennington III, of Waldoboro, died Feb. 2 at Miles Memorial Hospital.
Pennington was born Sept. 18, 1929, in Baltimore, Md., to Agnes Johnston Pennington and Samuel Charles Pennington, Jr.
He was educated at Calvert School in Baltimore, Md., Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H., and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.
Pennington joined the Air Force after graduating from college and trained as a navigator-bombardier. His tours of duty included Vietnam, Thailand, Guam, Newfoundland, and Labrador, as well as Loring Air Force Base in Maine, Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Tex., Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, La., and Dow AFB in Maine.
While at Carswell, he met Sally Clayton. They were married on April 26, 1958. The couple had five children and 11 grandchildren. While Pennington was stationed in Bangor, in the late 1960’s, the couple ran an antiques shop part time. After retirement in 1973, they settled in Waldoboro. For a short while, they published the Waldoboro Weekly.
In November of 1973, they launched the Maine Antique Digest from the kitchen of their Waldoboro home. From the earliest days their children took an active part in the publication of M.A.D. The black-and-white newsprint tabloid, which runs about 300 pages, attracted a readership of some 25,000 dealers, auctioneers, and collectors.
Pennington served on the SAD 40 School Board for many years, including several years as its chairman.
He was a collector of the works of Maine artists and held collections of medals and aviation memorabilia.
He was a Waldoboro representative on the Board of Lincoln County Television and served as the board chairman for several years until his failing health caused him to step down in January. For several years he co-hosted a weekly interview, news, and opinion show on LCTV.
He believed in local philanthropy and was an active member of the Democratic Party.
In spite of poor health in the last few months, Pennington faithfully went daily to his office at the Maine Antique Digest to oversee its operation and work on his ongoing projects, television show, and philanthropies. He was fond of saying that old age is not for sissies.
He is survived by his wife, Sally Pennington; children, Katherine Pennington and husband Nicholas Azzaretti of Newcastle, Nellie Pennington and husband Nathan Hine of South Strafford, Vt., Sarah McCleary of Georgetown, Tex., Samuel Pennington and wife Shane of Nobleboro, and Mary Pennington and husband David O Connor of Durham; grandchildren, Calen Pennington of Somerville, Mass., Hannah Pennington of Orono, Allison McCleary of Portland, Chiara and Salvatore Azzaretti of Newcastle, Anne McCleary of Gray, Amos Hine of South Strafford, Vt., Amelia and Olivia Pennington of Nobleboro, and Leo and Maysa O Connor of Durham; and brother, Christopher Pennington and wife Deborah and their son, Andrew of Catonsville, Md.
He was predeceased by a sister, Agnes Benziger.
Gifts may be made in his memory to Southern Maine Community College, SMCC Foundation, General Scholarship Fund, 2 Fort Rd., South Portland, ME 04106; the Waldoboro Food Pantry, 97 Friendship Rd., Waldoboro, ME 04572; or the Waldoboro Public Library, P.O. Box 768, Waldoboro, ME 04572.
A memorial service will be held in the spring.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
