Former legislator was a champion for Vermont and its natural environment
Philip "Peter" Peltz, 76, died on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at his home in Woodbury, Vt., after a long struggle with prostate cancer. Peter was a Vermont state legislator, a committed civic leader, an advocate for children and education, and a champion for Vermont and its natural environment. His family was at his side throughout the illness and at his final moment. He was surrounded by his beloved wife of 49 years, Cacky; his daughter, Aysha, and son-in-law, Todd, and their children, Ellis and Maeve; and his son, Alex, and daughter-in-law, Ann, and their children, Calder and Lyla. His family carried out his wishes for a home burial on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, on his cherished Woodbury property, attended by close friends and family. He leaves behind his wife; his two children; his four grandchildren; his sister, Shawnee Unger, and her children, Tess and Katy; his closest cousins, John and Phil Kerr; and a close community of friends who loved him. Peter was born in Albany, N.Y., on April 21, 1946, to Philip "Peter" Peltz and Elizabeth Hooper Peltz. He was raised in Sandwich, Mass., graduated from the Wooster School in Connecticut and received a BFA from the Museum School of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Peter realized early that his formal education didn't motivate him as much as working with his hands. He held many jobs prior to coming to Vermont: apple picker, frozen fish processor, cabdriver, maraschino cherry maker, boatbuilder, flower vendor at Faneuil Hall in Boston and photography teacher with inner-city children. Peter was a carpenter by trade and a person who was loving, strong, dependable, determined, endlessly curious, a problem solver and a "bridge builder." He got involved early in local civic service in Woodbury. He served as lister, a volunteer for the Woodbury Fire Department, a justice of the peace, and a Woodbury Selectboard member. He ran his own contracting business for many years before becoming a founding partner of Vermont Vernacular Design, a design-build construction company. Following his retirement from this firm in 2003, he built several energy-efficient, low-impact homes. Peter supported a wide range of local improvement projects with expertise, enthusiasm and a can-do spirit. He coordinated the voluntary construction of the Woodbury Community Room, adjacent to the Woodbury Community Library. He helped advise the elementary school in its purchase of land to expand the trail network and outdoor learning space. Most…
Former legislator was a champion for Vermont and its natural environment
Philip "Peter" Peltz, 76, died on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at his home in Woodbury, Vt., after a long struggle with prostate cancer. Peter was a Vermont state legislator, a committed civic leader, an advocate for children and education, and a champion for Vermont and its natural environment. His family was at his side throughout the illness and at his final moment. He was surrounded by his beloved wife of 49 years, Cacky; his daughter, Aysha, and son-in-law, Todd, and their children, Ellis and Maeve; and his son, Alex, and daughter-in-law, Ann, and their children, Calder and Lyla. His family carried out his wishes for a home burial on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, on his cherished Woodbury property, attended by close friends and family. He leaves behind his wife; his two children; his four grandchildren; his sister, Shawnee Unger, and her children, Tess and Katy; his closest cousins, John and Phil Kerr; and a close community of friends who loved him. Peter was born in Albany, N.Y., on April 21, 1946, to Philip "Peter" Peltz and Elizabeth Hooper Peltz. He was raised in Sandwich, Mass., graduated from the Wooster School in Connecticut and received a BFA from the Museum School of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Peter realized early that his formal education didn't motivate him as much as working with his hands. He held many jobs prior to coming to Vermont: apple picker, frozen fish processor, cabdriver, maraschino cherry maker, boatbuilder, flower vendor at Faneuil Hall in Boston and photography teacher with inner-city children. Peter was a carpenter by trade and a person who was loving, strong, dependable, determined, endlessly curious, a problem solver and a "bridge builder." He got involved early in local civic service in Woodbury. He served as lister, a volunteer for the Woodbury Fire Department, a justice of the peace, and a Woodbury Selectboard member. He ran his own contracting business for many years before becoming a founding partner of Vermont Vernacular Design, a design-build construction company. Following his retirement from this firm in 2003, he built several energy-efficient, low-impact homes. Peter supported a wide range of local improvement projects with expertise, enthusiasm and a can-do spirit. He coordinated the voluntary construction of the Woodbury Community Room, adjacent to the Woodbury Community Library. He helped advise the elementary school in its purchase of land to expand the trail network and outdoor learning space. Most…
