Penzias mụrụ na Munich, Germany, nwa Justine (née Eisenreich) na Karl Penzias, onye na-agba ahịa akpụkpọ anụ. Ndị nne na nna ya si Poland bịa Munich ma soro ndị isi nke Reichenbach Strasse Shul. Mgbe ọ dị afọ isii, ya na nwanne ya nwoke bụ Gunther so n'ime ụmụaka ndị Juu a kpọgara na Britain dịka akụkụ nke ọrụ nnapụta Kindertransport. Oge ụfọdụ ka e mesịrị, ndị mụrụ ya si Nazi Germany gbapụ maka US, ezinụlọ ahụ wee biri na Garment District nke New York City na 1940. N'afọ 1946, Penzias ghọrọ nwa amaala nke United States. Ọ gụsịrị akwụkwọ na Brooklyn Technical High School na 1951 na mgbe ọ debanyere aha iji mụọ kemịkal na New York City, ọ gbanwere isi na 1954 na ogo mmụta na physics, nke dị nso na klas ya.
Ụlọ Akwụkwọ Sekọndrị Nkà na Ụzụ Brooklyn