Great Neck Advocate Sheila Penn Dies

Tireless Great Neck advocate and community volunteer Sheila Penn died Jan. 18 at the age of 86.

After surving the bombing of London as a British school girl during Word War II, Penn emigrated to the United States and landed a job at the United Nations in 1953.

Penn carried with her a charming East End British accent, a dedication to hard work, a love for her New York community and an affinity for good grammar.

The daughter of a Jewish tailor from London, Penn is survived by her sons David and Steven.

She moved to Great Neck Plaza in 1970 with her husband, a former U.S. Marine, and two children.

Among her numerous contributions to the community, Penn was a , which was started in Great Neck in 1988 by a group of parents of developmentally disabled children. The residence was eventually turned over to Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities organization, where it continues to help those in need.

Penn served with the Great Neck Village Chamber of Commerce and on the board of directors of the Great Neck Senior Center.

Funeral services were held Jan. 20 at Temple Beth El in Great Neck and New Montefiore Cemetery in Pinelawn, according to the Riverside-Nassau Funeral Home.