He prepared for Princeton at the Pomfret School. He left Princeton after his sophomore year and later obtained additional education in business at Columbia University and in accounting at Syracuse University.
He served as a Navy pilot from 1953 to 1957 in Africa and Iceland. He later became a pilot for Mohawk Airlines and eventually flew for USAir. He retired from the airlines to run Ranhouse Corp., which offered financial planning and tax preparation in Little Compton, R.I.
Pete played hockey and football in school, and was a lifelong sports enthusiast. He was an avid New York Giants fan and coached Little League baseball and hockey. His many interests included golf, sailing, ham radio, fishing, skeet shooting, electronics, and woodworking.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Anne W. Ransom; his four children, Peter Jr., Hilary, Charles, and Virginia ’93; and his four grandchildren, Gabriel, Anne, Julia, and Elizabeth.