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New page: {{Infobox Biography | subject_name =Oscar S. Willenzik | image_name = | image_size = | image_caption = | date_of_birth =June 18, 1918 | place_of_birth = | date_of_death...
{{Infobox Biography
| subject_name =Oscar S. Willenzik
| image_name =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| date_of_birth =[[June 18]], [[1918]]
| place_of_birth =
| date_of_death =[[March 18]], [[2007]]
| place_of_death =
| occupation =Restaurant supply entrepreneur
| religion =[[B'Nai Israel Synagogue|Jewish]]
| spouse =
| parents =[[William Willenzik]]
| children =Sally Schukar, Judy Cunningham, Jerry Willenzik & Susie Antweil
| signature =
| signaturesize =
}}
'''Oscar Samuel Willenzik''' ([[1918]]-[[2007]]) was a Pensacola businessman who owned [[Oscar's Penko]] restaurant supply company, located in the [[Lewis Bear Building|Lewis Bear]] and [[Willko Building]]s on [[Palafox Place]] at [[Main Street|Main]].
Raised in Pensacola, Willenzik attended Tulane University and was valedictorian of his senior class, then studied law at the University of Florida. He served in the [[Navy]] during [[World War II]]. Returning to Pensacola, he and his father [[William Willenzik|William]] launched the Pensacola Restaurant Supply Company on [[April 1]], [[1946]], and quickly expanded their business from 1,600 square feet to 36,500 square feet.<ref name="forsale">"Historic buildings for sale." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 11, 2003.</ref> The company also included Oscar's brother [[Norman Willenzik|Norman]] and sister-in-law [[Carla Willenzik|Carla]].
Facing an economic downturn in the new century, Willenzik consolidated much of his business and let go about half of his employees, including several family members.<ref name="forsale"/> In October [[2006]], the [[City of Pensacola]]'s [[Code Enforcement Board]] cited the Willenziks for code violations on their two properties. Oscar wrote to the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' in response to the code citation:
{{cquote|I am still operating Oscar's Penko, Inc. as successor to Pensacola Restaurant Supply, at times unprofitably, primarily to avoid these buildings becoming vacant and being victims of vandalism and decay. [[Hurricane Ivan]] came and left its destruction, accompanied by a myriad of large problems never before experienced in our area during my lifetime. … We have already spent approximately $1,262,000 on repairs, and are in the process of entering into new written contacts, estimated to be in excess of $400,000, to complete this project. … Even Ivan, the most catastrophic hurricane to ever hit our area, and Father Time of 88 years can never take away the pride and love I have for these two buildings. It has been two years of frustration, perseverance and hard work. I hope there will be gratification in the end.<ref>"Building repair a priority downtown." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 19, 2006.</ref>}}
A few months later, on [[March 18]], [[2007]], Willenzik passed away at age 88.
Willenzik was past president of [[B'Nai Israel Synagogue]] and a member of [[B'Nai Brith]], the [[Pensacola Federated Jewish Charities]], the [[Tiger Bay Club]], the [[Pensacola Historical Society]] and the [[Downtown Improvement Board]].
==References==
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/SingleIndexIndView.aspx?ix=ssdiall&hpp=1&rf=*,z*&qt=i&zassn=433&zgssn=09&zsssn=8451&highlight=Willenzik WorldVitalRecords.com]
*Obituary. ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 20, 2007.
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:2007 deaths|Willenzik, Oscar]] [[Category:Business biographies|Willenzik, Oscar]]
| subject_name =Oscar S. Willenzik
| image_name =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| date_of_birth =[[June 18]], [[1918]]
| place_of_birth =
| date_of_death =[[March 18]], [[2007]]
| place_of_death =
| occupation =Restaurant supply entrepreneur
| religion =[[B'Nai Israel Synagogue|Jewish]]
| spouse =
| parents =[[William Willenzik]]
| children =Sally Schukar, Judy Cunningham, Jerry Willenzik & Susie Antweil
| signature =
| signaturesize =
}}
'''Oscar Samuel Willenzik''' ([[1918]]-[[2007]]) was a Pensacola businessman who owned [[Oscar's Penko]] restaurant supply company, located in the [[Lewis Bear Building|Lewis Bear]] and [[Willko Building]]s on [[Palafox Place]] at [[Main Street|Main]].
Raised in Pensacola, Willenzik attended Tulane University and was valedictorian of his senior class, then studied law at the University of Florida. He served in the [[Navy]] during [[World War II]]. Returning to Pensacola, he and his father [[William Willenzik|William]] launched the Pensacola Restaurant Supply Company on [[April 1]], [[1946]], and quickly expanded their business from 1,600 square feet to 36,500 square feet.<ref name="forsale">"Historic buildings for sale." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 11, 2003.</ref> The company also included Oscar's brother [[Norman Willenzik|Norman]] and sister-in-law [[Carla Willenzik|Carla]].
Facing an economic downturn in the new century, Willenzik consolidated much of his business and let go about half of his employees, including several family members.<ref name="forsale"/> In October [[2006]], the [[City of Pensacola]]'s [[Code Enforcement Board]] cited the Willenziks for code violations on their two properties. Oscar wrote to the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' in response to the code citation:
{{cquote|I am still operating Oscar's Penko, Inc. as successor to Pensacola Restaurant Supply, at times unprofitably, primarily to avoid these buildings becoming vacant and being victims of vandalism and decay. [[Hurricane Ivan]] came and left its destruction, accompanied by a myriad of large problems never before experienced in our area during my lifetime. … We have already spent approximately $1,262,000 on repairs, and are in the process of entering into new written contacts, estimated to be in excess of $400,000, to complete this project. … Even Ivan, the most catastrophic hurricane to ever hit our area, and Father Time of 88 years can never take away the pride and love I have for these two buildings. It has been two years of frustration, perseverance and hard work. I hope there will be gratification in the end.<ref>"Building repair a priority downtown." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 19, 2006.</ref>}}
A few months later, on [[March 18]], [[2007]], Willenzik passed away at age 88.
Willenzik was past president of [[B'Nai Israel Synagogue]] and a member of [[B'Nai Brith]], the [[Pensacola Federated Jewish Charities]], the [[Tiger Bay Club]], the [[Pensacola Historical Society]] and the [[Downtown Improvement Board]].
==References==
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/SingleIndexIndView.aspx?ix=ssdiall&hpp=1&rf=*,z*&qt=i&zassn=433&zgssn=09&zsssn=8451&highlight=Willenzik WorldVitalRecords.com]
*Obituary. ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 20, 2007.
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:2007 deaths|Willenzik, Oscar]] [[Category:Business biographies|Willenzik, Oscar]]
