Peter A. Lareau ’59
Peter died March 13, 2021, near his home in Ladson, S.C., where he had recently moved. Coming to Princeton from Exeter Academy, he majored in history, joined Whig-Clio, served on Orange Key, chaired Charter Club’s athletic committee and served on the bicker committee, and was business manager of the Bric-a-Brac. Roommates Brumbaugh, Harbin, Helms, Holmes, J.M. Gross, Oelman, and Strom formed lifelong bonds with Peter and with each other.
Commissioned upon graduation through NROTC, Peter served aboard the destroyer USS Bigelow during the Cuban Missile Crisis and later during the Bay of Pigs invasion, picking up survivors swimming from the Cuban beach. Following the Navy, he pursued a career in finance as a certified financial analyst and later as a portfolio manager, first at Chemical Bank, later at Legg Mason.
In 1989 Peter married Kate Compton. He began a second career on the media side of finance, working as a consultant to Dow Jones, then to CNBC, then to Bloomberg News, where he simultaneously began a media company specializing in the development of content for, and distribution of, educational news for adolescents and teenagers.
Peter is survived by Kate and his children, Thomas, Margaret, and Geoffrey. We have sent condolences.
Paw in print
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Anxhela Binaj Lareau
2 Months AgoFamily Remembrances
Our hearts and spirits are with Peter Armour Lareau, who would have been celebrating his 88th birthday today. It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since he left us, but his memory shines brighter than ever. My Father-in-law arrived in this world with an incredible independent spirit, fueled by an unwavering work ethic, perseverance, and a mind that was always sharp. He was truly a man of valor, a scholar through and through, an Exonian and a Princetonian. He loved history, theology, and countless sports, always keeping himself active. As a Navy lieutenant, he never surrendered to life’s storms; his heart and soul were as strong and steadfast as anchors deep at sea. Middle age brought him home to the true joy of family: his beloved wife and three children. For 32 beautiful years, he shared a love with his charming Kate Compton from New York — a love that endured until his very last breath, giving him a peaceful goodbye and a meaningful eternal rest. Peter was immensely proud of his children. His eldest son and oldest child, Thomas (my wonderful husband, his spitting image), carries on his love for pumpkin pie, history, and running. His daughter, Margaret-Anne, inherited his passion for philanthropy and tennis. And his son, Geoffrey, along with the rest of the Lareau family, knows Thanksgiving means football and good food — a tradition Peter absolutely cherished. Peter never gave up on his dreams or his family; he fought with everything he had until he couldn’t fight anymore. He might not have been an apostle, but he surely knocked on Heaven’s door, having lived eight decades true to his beliefs. His accomplishments, and the wonderful family he built, are nothing short of a masterpiece. We humbly bow our heads to him, knowing he truly made this world a better place. I’ll never forget his infectious and charming laughter over the phone in the days before he passed. That joy, that warmth, is a memory I’ll always hold close. As the angelic armor of Heaven now adorns his shoulders, we find comfort knowing he’s reunited with those he loved and lost. Not a soul on this earth will ever forget you, Peter; your loved ones and their cherished memories will live on forever. We hope Heaven is truly wonderful for you, a magical world beyond our realm.