Shining Stars
2009 Star
José Antonio “Tony” Soegaard, Jr.
Penmar Industries, Inc.
José Antonio “Tony” Soegaard, Jr., was the proud owner and president of
Penmar Industries, Inc. in South Norwalk, a company he lead since 1992.
Under Tony’s stewardship, Penmar expanded its capabilities to deliver customprinted
labels to suit every need, while preserving the company’s unparalleled personal touch. He built a strong culture of teamwork and instituted a system of total quality control that flows through the entire Penmar production process, thus strengthening their ability to deliver outstanding products and services. Penmar Industries has been and continues to be an industry leader, bringing you the highest quality packaging solutions, with a commitment to offering only the best customer service. But above all, Penmar Industries has always been and remains a dedicated team of professionals, with a proven record of success in meeting the highest challenges for our customers.
Among Tony’s many passions were family, golf, and his commitment and love for giving back to his Latino community. Tony was quick to offer a hand when needed, embrace you with his generosity, and give you comfort with his sincerity. Always grounded by his faith, he kept us levelheaded with his humility.
Inspired by his namesake, St. Joseph, the patron saint of fathers, he loved every aspect of his life as the father of José III and Javier Andres. He relished every opportunity to be a part of his children’s lives, taking the time to coach youth sports teams or attend his sons’ concerts and plays. He shared with his sons his love and passion for baseball, golf, Latino culture and above all, service to others. His pride and joy for his sons was always evident as he proudly could be seen wearing the sweaters, colors, and gear showcasing the respective universities they each attended. Tony was proud of his family heritage, actively engaged in the Latino community in Connecticut, supporting organizations such as the Latino Scholarship Fund, PRIMER, and the former Connecticut Minority Supplier Development Council. Beyond his work at Penmar Industries, Tony also served on the board of
directors of the Spectape Inc., one of the most recognized manufacturers of pressure sensitive tapes in the U.S., since 2001. He was a member of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), Small Manufacturers and served as chairman of the Institute of Packaging Professionals Scholarship Fund, which raises funds for college students in the packaging and industrial engineering fields, since 2001. Tony received his B.S in civil engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez in 1978, and completed his M.S in engineering at Texas A&M in 1980.
Tony died April 2, 2009.