Deputy PM of Estonian government-in-exile Enno Penno dies at 86
Minister of Roads, Acting Minsiter of Roads and Deputy Prime Minister of the Estonian government-in-exile Enno Penno died in Stockholm on Wednesday.
Born in Tallinn on April 22, 1930, Penno was an Estonian politician and member of the Estonian government-in-exile who served as part of Minister of Roads Aleksander Warma’s government from Jan. 1, 1962 through March 1, 1963 and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister by his predecessor Heinrich Mark on March 1, 1990.
Penno’s government decided on July 16, 1992 to cease its operations simultaneously with the beginning of the first session of the 7th Riigikogu on Oct. 5. On that day, it turned out that Minister of Economic Affairs Mihkel Mathiesen, who had protested against the government-in-exile’s ceasing of operations on July 16 already, had appointed a new government on Sept. 15.
Penno and his parents escaped to Finland and on to Sweden in 1944. In 1965, he served as guest lecturer at the University of Illinois.
From 1964-1982, Penno worked as chief engineer of the Cooperatives’ Union’s Engineering Department, after which he spent ten years working for the Stockholm city government’s real estate and urban development agencies.
Penno was secretary general of the Estonian Democratic Union, chairman of the Swedish Department as well as chairman of the central administration. He was likewise chairman of the board at the Estonian National Council and an active member of the Estonian National Foundation, the Estonian Committee, the Estonian Loan and Savings Society. From 1981-1986 he also served as director of the Estonian Scientific Society in Sweden.
From 1990-1992, Penno belonged to the board of directors of the Engineering Department of the Swedish Association for Quality and until 1996 belonged to the board of directors at the Swedish Association of Building Inspectors.
Penno, a member of the Estonian Students Society, earned an honorary decoration from the Swedish Association of Building Inspectors, the Estonian Border Guard’s “Sword and Lynx” badge, the Estonian Boy Scouts and Girl Guides’ Tammetäht, 2nd Class as well as the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class.
Penno was elected to the Estonian Committee Body of Substitutes in 1966, 1968 and 1970.
Editor: Editor: Aili Vahtla
