Peter Denby ’51

ON APR. 17, 1991, in Pittsburgh, Peter lost a long battle with cancer and died in the arms of his beloved wife, Peggy. Gritty to the end, he sang with her the songs they loved, cracked the jokes that always brought a smile, and toasted with champagne their 35 years together.

Peter was born in Philadelphia and came to Princeton from Millbrook School. He roomed with Mike Strang and Bill Bauhan. He majored in sociology, was a member of Colonial Club, and was managing editor of the NASSAU SOVEREIGN.

After Harvard Law School he joined Davis, Polk in N.Y.C., followed by 32 years with Reed Smith Shaw & McClay in Pittsburgh, where he was senior partner.

Peter's responsiveness to community service was legendary. He was president of the boards of Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children and Presley Ridge school for emotionally disturbed children, a trustee of Carnegie Museum of Art, Sarah Scaife Foundation, and president of Pittsburgh Regional Planning Assn., HYP Club, Western Pennsylvania Golf Assn., and mayor of Edgeworth Borough.

Peter had a lifelong commitment to excellencea brilliant lawyer, community leader, lowhandicap golfer, fly fisherman, squash player, collector of jazzall leavened with whimsy. A superb shot, he hunted duck in Canada, and grouse and woodcock in New Hampshire; he fished for trout in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and salmon in Iceland. The spirituality of the outdoors was his cathedral.

The Class extends its deepest sympathy to Peggy, his sons Charles'73 and Peter Jr., his daughter Lee, and five grandchildren.

The Class of 1951