Pender, Sr., Michael R. P.E.

The Herald Tribune carries the obituary of Mike Pender, Sr., a founder of the Sarasota Sister Cities Organization where he served as Treasurer. He and his wife Francina have been members of SCAS ever since, and his son and daughter-in-law (Mike, Jr., & Marie) have been long time Sister Cities members also.


Pender, Sr., Michael R. P.E.
Feb. 18, 1926 - Nov. 23, 2014

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With his family by his side, Michael R Pender, Sr. passed away on November 23, 2014 at the age of 88. He was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York on February 18, 1926, the only child to Horace Gibson Pender and Lillian Frances Higgins. He grew up in Garden City, New York and graduated from Garden City High School in 1943. He attended Dartmouth College, left for the Army and then returned in 1947 and graduated with an AB Degree in 1949. In June 1950, he received his Master's Degree from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth.

He began his career as a project manager for Madigan-Highland Engineers where he devised the toll system for the New York State thruway and the feasibility of a railroad in the wilds of Columbia. He then went on to join the administrative staff of the 1964-65 New York World's Fair Corporation; he became Commissioner of General Services for the town of Hempstead followed by the same for Nassau County. He then reorganized the public works department for the Village of Valley Stream, all located on Long Island, New York.

He formally retired his New York career in January of 1986 and relocated to Sarasota, Florida. In Sarasota, he joined the firm of Boyle Engineering as a senior consulting engineer and held that position until 2006 when Boyle Engineering was sold.

He was a registered professional engineer in the states of New York, Florida and New Hampshire. He was passionate about giving back to his profession and his community. He was either Treasurer and or President of many of the professional and civic organizations he belonged to. His proudest moment was when he was named the National President of the American Public Works Association in 1984-85. Due to his nature, he never talked about his honors and recognitions, but there were many.

After moving to Florida, he continued his passion for service both in his profession and in the community. He is past President of the Dartmouth Club and the Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay. He played an active role as Treasurer in the formation of the Sarasota Sister City Organization. He served on five Sarasota County boards and task forces and was an elder at the Pine Shores Presbyterian Church.

His career did not consume his life; he was a loving husband, he always found time to be with this five children and was an incredible caring father. He was known as a friend to all that met and worked with him.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Francina J. Pender and his five children, his son Michael Jr. (Marie) of Bradenton/Sarasota, FL, his son William (Jo) of Huston, TX, daughter, Robin of Stevensville, MD, his son, Richard (Denise) of Ashburn, VA, and son John of Sarasota, FL, eight grandchildren, three great granddaughters and one great, great grandson.


A Celebration of Life will be held at 9 am on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the Pine Shores Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Dartmouth College Scholarship Fund, c/o the Dartmouth Club of Sarasota, 2033 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34237; Sarasota Bay Rotary Club Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1311, Sarasota, FL 34230: Pines Shores Presbyterian Church, 6135 Beechwood Ave., Sarasota, FL 34231 -