Community
A values-based, caring, intentional community.
NOTE: Only two founders, Barbara Jacobson and Richard Yarnall, were not on the original Pennswood board. The one new face (above) was Anthony “Tony” Burton, who was a well-respected CPA in Bucks County. His Quaker family arrived on one of the first ships that arrived in Bristol, PA. He guided the Pennswood Finance Committee for many years.
Pennswood Founders
PENNSWOOD’S SEVEN FOUNDERS were all “weighty” Quakers who had some connection with George School, either as students and/or as George …
A Values-Based Community Founding Board Members 1980: John Hollister, Robert Teel, George Otto, Elise Barash, T. Sidney Cadwallader II, Anthony …
Theme 5: Well-being & Community: The Good Life at Pennswood (concluding with Shadowlands, a short play written about our founders) …
BARBARA JACOBSON (b.1915; d. 2011) grew up in Rose Valley, PA. She studied piano with Nadia Boulanger in Paris (1931-32), …
Community A values-based, caring, intentional community. NOTE: Only two founders, Barbara Jacobson and Richard Yarnall, were not on the original …
ELISE LUDEKE BARASH (b. 1915; d. 2010), the second of four children, lived a long and full life that touched …
GEORGE OTTO (b. 1903; d. 1996) was described in the Philadelphia Inquirer as a “community builder.” For 40 years, George …
JOHN “JACK” STAPLER HOLLISTER (b. 1914, d.1988) was born in Trenton, NJ, of Quaker parents. A George School graduate (class …
Pennswood CEOs
THE BLESSING OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP AT PENNSWOOD “No ray of sunshine is ever lost, but the green which it awakens …
HAROLD PASSMORE, CEO 1980-1983 (Worked with the Founders beginning in Aug., 1977) “A Camelot-like experience” Harold Passmore died in 1983 …
Michael Levengood, CEO 1983-1987 Kay Marik interviewed Michael Levengood at his home in Woodstock, VT on August 12, 2023. This …
Stories of Community
Dancing at Pennswood
When Ruth Peterson and Jack Bertolino came to Pennswood 30 years ago, they very much wanted to start a Dance …
The Fair (Feb., 2024)
In February 2024 the PVRA sponsored a fair to showcase all of the many service and entertainment activities that residents …
Pennswood – A Family Affair
by Leslie Wendel DO YOU KNOW OF SPECIAL OR LONG-TIME RELATIONSHIPS HERE AT PENNSWOOD? Help us update the list of …
Pennswood’s NEW Peace Pole (May, 2024)
Opposite the main entrance to our Community Center our new peace pole proclaims in 16 world languages, “May Peace Prevail …
On Community
“In a community, you are aware of belonging to a totality beyond yourself, one in which you have a stake …
My Story: Emmy Bledsoe
Emmy Bledsoe tells of farm life on the site of present day Pennswood Village …
My Story: Alice Crozier
Alice Crozier tells a heartwarming Christmas Eve story “Only at Pennswood.” …