Geoffrey Paul Penar of Shelburne, Vt., unexpectedly passed away at his home on January 28, 2025, at the age of 36, due to a seizure disorder, a complication of a previous head injury. Geoffrey was born in Burlington, Vt., the son of Paul Penar and Dorothea Fraver Penar and the only true Vermonter in the family.
Geoffrey was a naturally talented musician who could play many instruments but specialized in classic voice. He intuitively understood music from an early age. He performed in Lyric and Stowe shows as a youth and even appeared on the radio show “From the Top.” After attending St. Johnsbury Academy, where he memorably performed in several musicals and in the jazz band, he was awarded a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., graduating with high distinction in 2011. He then earned a master’s degree and an artist’s diploma in vocal performance from McGill University.
Geoffrey worked in performances across the U.S. and in Canada. He described himself as “a seasoned musical theater/classical and opera/rock singer and pianist … who has traveled North America performing such roles as Lescaut in Manon, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia, Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, Lancelot in Camelot, and Puck and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He has worked for Saratoga Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Green Mountain Opera, Middlebury Opera, Hubbard Hall, Ohio Light Opera and Pacific Music Works. He has also played piano, saxophone, clarinet and sang in various jazz combos and rock groups over the last 20 years.”
He recently started a new life, returning to Vermont, teaching voice and piano in Shelburne, and serving as the cantor at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, his childhood parish. In January, he was a judge in the All-State Music Competition and last performed onstage singing Brahms’ Requiem in German as a featured soloist with the Green Mountain Mahler Festival orchestra on Saturday, January 25.
Geoffrey was a football afficionado, ran fantasy leagues, and loved the New England Patriots and the Michigan Wolverines. His hockey team was the Detroit Red Wings, as his parents grew up in Michigan.
Many have described his humility despite an impressive natural talent in voice and many forms of music, but above all they appreciated his kindness as a teacher and friend. His sense of humor and wonderful voice will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his parents; his brother, Peter Penar; sister-in-law, Eva; and niece, Angélique. Also surviving him are his godparents, Mary Ann and Anthony Marinello; aunt, Elizabeth Crucitt; uncles, Fredrick and Lawrence Penar and Charles and Terry Fraver; and many cousins.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025, at the Ready Funeral Home-South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, Vt., 5 to 7 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 15, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Church Street, Shelburne, VT.
In keeping with Geoffrey’s passions for music and American civics fostered at St. Johnsbury Academy, in lieu of flowers, he would want you to contribute to the Julian Music Fund at St. Johnsbury Academy, 1000 Main St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819, or to the ACLU.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To share online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2025.
I am sure many in the Vermont singing community were shocked to hear of Geoff’s untimely death. I had a chance to sing with him maybe 10 years or so ago; coming around a street corner one evening, I happened upon him having a cigarette–he told me to NEVER TELL ANYONE I had seen that! His voice was remarkably rich and resonant for such a short body. He discussed how, in his vocal studies (with I believe Bill Reed), one develops a mask or image to allow the entire bbody to become a resonator, thus eliminating the classic either-head-OR-chest duality some singers find themselves locked into. A true loss in our singing community and of course for all his survivors. Godspeed Geoffrey, it was great to hear you sing.