THE BLESSING OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP AT PENNSWOOD
“No ray of sunshine is ever lost, but the green which it awakens into existence needs time to sprout, and it is not always granted for the sower to see the harvest.
All work that is worth anything is done in faith.”
Albert Schweitzer
Interviews
Harold Passmore
Michael Levengood
WHAT WISDOM can we gain today from their service here at Pennswood? What drew them here? What were their biggest challenges and greatest sources of satisfaction? Each of our former CEOs has generously shared their Pennswood journey in the following interviews, and, with their permission, we reprint their answers here.
From its inception, Pennswood has been blessed with people who served the Quaker values that supported the mission and vision of its founders, often referred to as the “SPICES”—Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.
Our first CEO, Harold Passmore, was discovered at George School, having worked at that Quaker-founded organization as its business manager for many years. He was followed by Michael Levengood, formerly a Lutheran minister, who became a Quaker and was a close friend of founding Board President Jack Hollister.
Michael Levengood was followed by Alan Farneth, also a Quaker, who had previously served Pennswood as a Board member (and was First V.P. of the E.F. Hutton Corporate Finance Dept. in New York). The next CEO, Nancy Spears, was a Viet Nam War nurse who worked at Pennswood for 12 years setting up Pennswood’s health care system, Barclay, Woolman, and the Fitness Center, before getting a Master’s degree in Administration from Penn. For 41 years, Nancy Spears contributed significantly to Pennswood until her retirement.
Nancy Spears was followed briefly by Karen Lehman, a Mennonite, who had been CEO at another Quaker community (Friends House in Sandy Spring, MD) and was a colleague from Friends Services Alliance (FSA). Ben Hoyle originally arrived at Pennswood as our Chief Financial Officer. He became interim CEO after Karen’s resignation, and, the following year, Ben became our CEO.
Each of these leaders brought different gifts and talents, but whatever their backgrounds and life experiences, each brought strong faith values, compassion, and a commitment to building the strong community we enjoy today, one that unites residents, staff, and board.
Our current CEO, Dan Murray, joined Pennswood in 2018, just before COVID began. He successfully led us through the Covid years and conducted major renovations of the physical plant and construction of two new resident apartment buildings.