Like any lasting romance, there’s a good story behind the love of Merry Feintuch, W’74, PAR’05, PAR’08, and her husband Rick Feintuch, W’74, PAR’05, PAR’08.
In 1971, the two Penn sophomores first walked into the brand-new Annenberg Center together. They couldn’t have imagined that more than half a century later, they would have the opportunity to name the lobby where they met. Thanks to a gift from the couple that will set the stage for the future of the Annenberg Center, the new Feintuch Family Lobby will officially be dedicated in the spring of 2021, when the Center begins its 50th Anniversary Celebrations.
“The Annenberg Center has been an important part of our story from the very beginning,” said Rick, who sits on the Annenberg Center board. “We have personal interests in music and theater, and are thrilled to support an initiative that is meaningful to us.”
The impact of the gift felt even more critical to Merry and Rick as theaters across the country struggled to survive. Their support has allowed the Annenberg Center to offer digital audiences original performances live from the stage during the 2020-21 season.
As best friends, Merry and Rick bonded over their love of college basketball, an impossible math class, and the theater. However, things changed on a fall evening in 1971 when Rick invited Merry to join him at an Annenberg Center performance. Merry, who grew up going to Broadway shows from her home on Long Island, was impressed with the Annenberg Center right away. “We saw the Glee Club perform at this gorgeous, new building,” she said. “There wasn’t much in the way of performing arts for students when we were at Penn. Now they have their pick of multiple performances on any given night (pre-pandemic).”
Rick went on to have a successful law career and Merry worked for nine years as a CPA before raising another generation of Penn graduates: sons Jason, W’05, and Jonathan, W’08. “Everything good in my life is a result of her,” said Rick.
The pandemic has given the couple insight that even after all these years, they are still smitten. “We have been in quarantine together morning, noon, and night since last March and we still like each other,” said a smiling Merry. The unusual year has allowed them to catch Annenberg digital performances without distance getting in the way. Additionally, the Feintuchs were pleased to hear that the Feintuch Family Lobby is currently being used in another form of service to the University, as a campus COVID-19 testing site.
The Feintuchs credit Penn and the many relationships they formed on campus as an important foundation to their long-lasting success and desire to give back. The duo still return to where it all started when they can. “Whatever your cup of tea is in the arts, you can find it at Annenberg,” said Rick.
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