WSA is heartbroken at the loss of a dear friend, teacher, and mentor Ken Pensyl. In over 40 years of service to the environmental field, Ken made incredible contributions to statewide stormwater regulations at the Maryland Department of the Environment and at the local level here in Anne Arundel County. As the Program Manager for MDE’s Sediment, Stormwater and Dam Safety Divisions, Ken helped usher in a paradigm shift from collecting and conveying stormwater to holding and treating it in the landscape. The last 25 years have been a time of incredible innovation in our field and Ken was there to tackle the many implications of addressing stormwater in a completely new way, untangle complexities and help others navigate this new science.
Ken brought that expertise to Anne Arundel County, managing the maintenance of public stormwater facilities in the County. Ken shared his expertise with WSA as a key instructor for our Stormwater Success Course and our Watershed Steward Certification Course. His enthusiastic explanations of stormwater ponds and engaging site tours were an important part of learning for hundreds of community leaders across the County.
What set Ken apart, though, was not WHAT he did, but HOW he did it. Ken was easily the most knowledgeable and experienced person in any room when it came to stormwater, but you would never know it. His humble demeanor and easy-going personality made stormwater management approachable. With over 1,000 stormwater management devices to manage in the county, Ken was a busy person, but if you were interested in stormwater, he was interested in showing you all you wanted to see. He was never too busy to personally visit communities and follow up with helpful and detailed assessments of their water issues. No one’s problem was too small for his attention, and he was always excited to talk about stormwater. His passion for stormwater was truly infectious.
For me, Ken was a special mentor, who will be missed not only for his breadth and depth of expertise, but for his warm smile and the way he genuinely valued each person.
Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time. For those who want to read more about Ken or his final arrangements, his obituary may be found here.
Suzanne
