At Princeton he majored in psychology and joined Cap and Gown. He roomed at 222 1901 Hall with McNamara, Douglas, Gustafson, Greer, Jaenicke, Savone, Mooney, Swensrud, McRoberts, Barrett, Seabrook, and Dillon. As a junior he met his life’s love, Patricia Collins. They married after Peter’s Princeton graduation, starting a life together in Panama City, Fla., where he served in the Air Force.
Peter joined the training program at Chicago’s Continental Bank, where he worked 34 years, with another 10 years spent at Cole Taylor Bank. Customers and colleagues remained his lifelong friends.
Peter’s last eight years were spent happily with Patricia at the Mather, a continuing-care residential building in Evanston, Ill. Peter, a faithful supporter of all things Chicago, continued his family’s tradition of supporting Chicago Commons, one of the first settlement houses in the city’s northwest. He served as board chair of the 124-year-old organization, which provides everything from early-childhood education to adult daycare for seniors. He also was the treasurer of the Winnetka Historical Society and an active volunteer with the North Shore Senior Center and Evanston’s Connections for the Homeless. An avid fly-fisherman, Peter, his eye always out for a catch, taught his children and his 14 grandchildren how to cast.
Peter is survived by his wife, Patricia; children Bill, Betsy Ahearne, Bob, Mike, and Kate Rutledge; and 14 grandchildren.