Donald M. Pennock, 80, Audubon Park mayor, fire chief

Donald M. Pennock, 80, mayor of Audubon Park for three terms, from January 1995 through December 2006, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Elmwood Hills Healthcare Center in Blackwood.

His son Larry, the present mayor of the Camden County borough, said his father also was a member for 54 years of the Audubon Park Volunteer Fire Company.

Donald Pennock was its president for 12 years and its chief for 25 years, though not in consecutive years.

"If you had to ask him - chief - that's what he was most proud of," Larry Pennock said of his father.

But his father separated his civic responsibilities, Larry said. "I don't think he was chief when he was serving as mayor."

Donald Pennock, known as Mickey, became mayor because "he had a large number of residents approach him" to run in his first election.

His son said that Mr. Pennock, well-known around the borough, "thought he could serve the town better as mayor."

Mark Cavallo, police chief in Haddon Township, said in a phone interview that "I've known Mayor Pennock my entire life."

Cavallo said he worked for the Audubon Park Police Department in the 1980s when Mr. Pennock was fire chief there.

"Chief Pennock was universally known and universally loved," Cavallo said. "Everybody knew him and everybody loved him" in that town.

"There was little wonder he became the mayor."

Born in Burlington County, Mr. Pennock graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden and during the Korean conflict was an Army driver for a general in the former West Germany, his son said.

Mr. Pennock retired in 1999 after a 43-year career as a security supervisor at Temple University.

In the early 1970s, he was a manager of one of the softball teams for youngsters from 9 to 14 years old in the Audubon Park Youth Association.

His son said Mr. Pennock was among the annual recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Award from the Camden County Board of Freeholders.

Besides his son Larry, Mr. Pennock is survived by wife Joan, sons Donald and Michael, daughters Patty Farley and Linda Pennock, a brother, two sisters, seven grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

A viewing was set from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Gardner Funeral Home, 126 S. Black Horse Pike, Runnemede, before a noon funeral there.

Donations may be sent to Audubon Park Volunteer Fire Company, 18 Road C, Audubon Park, N.J. 08106.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www. gardnerfuneralhome.com.