For the past 12 years, Rachel Penner has been an integral part of life at Edgewood. From the moment she and her husband, David, moved in, she’s been sharing her love of learning, culture, and connection with everyone around her.
Rachel played a key role in the early planning of the Edgewood Lifelong Learning (ELL) program and even launched her own popular lecture series on classic films — starting with the intrigue and glamour of 1950s Film Noir. Whether leading a trivia challenge, coordinating activities at Treasure Cove, or presenting as a lecturer par excellence, Rachel brings both knowledge and heart to all she does.
Rachel’s lifelong curiosity began with a degree in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and continued through her early work at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. There, in the Smithsonian’s historic “Castle,” Rachel assisted with preservation and research for the Bureau of American Ethnology, helping to document the rapidly fading cultures of Indigenous peoples.
When David accepted a teaching position at Phillips Academy in Andover, the couple moved to the campus to serve as house parents. Rachel worked in the Academy library, helping students with research and encouraging a love of discovery. Later, she brought her skills to the Newbury Public Library, where she learned the unique art of balancing community needs, public opinion, and town funding — an entirely new kind of education in itself!
Rachel credits her years as a research librarian — long before the days of the internet and Google — with sharpening her passion for history and trivia. That same curiosity has taken her in many creative directions, including writing a children’s book, Armando the Amazing Armadillo, which proudly resides in the Edgewood library.
Rachel embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and community engagement that defines Edgewood. Through her curiosity, warmth, and willingness to share her knowledge, she continues to enrich life here in countless ways — one story, one lecture, and one trivia question at a time.
Written by Edgewood resident Nancy Crossfield.