Dec 28, 1932 - Oct 07, 2019
1932 – 2019
Born December 28, 1932 in Portsmouth, England, Peter peacefully passed away in his sleep on October 7th in Ottawa, Ontario in his 86th year from complications from cancer and dementia with his partner Jan and his sons Stefan, Egan and Nick with him. Predeceased by his infant son Jason, grandson Edward, sister Pam and parents Ernest and Mabel.
Born in the small historic English naval town of Portsmouth, Peter developed a love for the sea and a strong desire to see the world which is what drove him as a young man to find work on Cunard’s RMS Queen Mary. It was on one of the Queen Mary’s New York to Southampton transits that he met his wife Joyce. He gave up the sea and followed her to sunny Kingston, Jamaica where they settled down and started a family. Peter’s entrepreneurial spirit and eternal optimism led him to create a very successful business selling office equipment in Jamaica. Political and social unrest in the island in the ‘70s forced Peter to move his young family to Toronto, Canada for a better life. After an amicable divorce from Joyce, Peter later retired with his partner Jan to Nova Scotia where they lived an idyllic life in the picturesque coastal village of Northwest Cove. Not one to stand still Peter used his optimistic spirit, sense of community and powers of influence to raise money and support for the creation of the Aspotogan peninsula multi-use trail; to organize the renovation of the Ocean Swells community hall (Northwest Cove); to create the Nova Scotia chapter of the Athenaeum Society; to become the Coffee Guy at the Hubbards Farmers’ Market on summer Saturday mornings; and most importantly to develop strong friendships with many local and come-from-away folks who live on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.
Peter was a kind and generous partner to Jan, loving father to Stefan (Sue), Egan (Chantale), Nick (Diane), adopted father to Andrew (Sheri) and Nicola (Cam), and adoring and sometimes silly grandfather to Daniel, Emilie, Sydney Sophie, Liam, Jonah, David and Marc.
In keeping with Peter’s wishes a funeral service will not be performed and a celebration of life will be held in July 2020 in Northwest Cove for friends and family.
In lieu of flowers Peter has requested that donations be made to the Halifax children’s hospital through www.IWKfoundation.org
Peter is fondly remembered and missed by his loved ones and friends.
Peter was involved with life, politics and family. He strove to make a difference in our community and he did.
We will always remember our friend Peter’s bright smile which was contagious with anyone he came in contact with. Peter, you will be truly missed.
Cobbold Family:
Our hearts go out to your family… I only met Peter a few times but really liked him.
Good Bless,
The Kuno Family
We remember Peter as the charming and energetic Chair of the Atheneum Society in North West Cove and the skillful coffee guy who transformed the regular cup of coffee into an elixir on Saturday mornings. He was an excellent host and very good company. He was gracious; a great salesman; We miss him personally, and as a member of the community. We were saddened by his struggles with his health in his last years. Rest in Peace, Peter.