The last time I visited with Pete was in early February, 2023, when a good number of us gathered in Miami, Florida, for Cousin Louis’s memorial service. 

As usual, his sense of humor was intact and his ability to laugh and to make me laugh along was no less sharp than was the case ever through the decades.

Pete was also known to many as Peter, his given name; however, in the mid 70s he was introduced to me as “Pete” and it stuck with me. Many of my long-time acquaintances still call me “Ricky” and I don’t mind it at all, as I’m sure he didn’t mind my (and others) calling him “Pete”. 

I had the opportunity to say a few words to him over the phone the day he died. As I told him, “I know you can hear me” and spoke assuming just that. In fact, his loving family, including his wife, my cousin Janis, and his parents, now in their 90s, also spoke to him till the end. 

I told him that when I thought of him, two characteristics immediately came to mind.

First, his faithfulness. Pete was a consistent and faithful Christian dedicated to serving the Lord, along with his wife, Janis. In this he never wavered. And for this, I, for one, am truly grateful and humbled when I consider it. This is not flattery on my part; only a recognition that there are many today who truly desire to do right, by God’s grace. And Pete was one of them.

Second, his sense of humor. I reminded him of the time he and Janis visited us decades ago and Pete told of his visiting several churches in the Midwest and reading up on the customs and ways of life so as to know what to talk about with his hosts. In one town, after church, he and Janis had Sunday dinner with a large family under the shade of a massive tree. The family raised hogs and Pete asked them when they would “slap the hogs” as he wanted to witness that. The family was nonplussed and Pete kept insisting that he had read this. Finally one elderly gentleman leaned over and said, “Well, we do SLOP the hogs….”

As I laughed, Pete told about folks falling off the picnic benches convulsing with mirth before this city slicker.

Pete’s life began on an air force base in Illinois; however, he lived his childhood in New York City and played in various rock bands and even a folk group in Greenwich Village. He came to know the Lord Jesus in the 70s when his family had moved to Miami, Florida. Shortly thereafter, he was called into full time ministry and never looked back.

In addition to earning his Doctor of Ministry Degree he developed an interest in antiquities and participated in archaeological digs in Israel. Our family enjoyed a movie he filmed, “Rossvally: From the Synagog to the Savior”. But that was not enough to exhaust his energies as he also was very active in Civil War reenactments in several states.

Pete cheerfully battled cancer for many years and, after a series of mishaps he succumbed on January 17, 2026, at the age of 72.

I don’t remember a time, if ever, in which I did not see him as a member of the family. We cousins grew up very close to one another. Our aunts and uncles were just a degree removed from our parents: they could discipline or instruct us without any pushback whatever. When Pete joined the gang, he quickly became one of us, and I’m sure we became one of his.

On that phone call the day of his passing, I read to him Psalm 23, knowing that as one approaches death, there is nothing better than to hear the Word of God as one is about to meet him face to face. I know Pete appreciated that.

Pete departed this life over a month ago, but it is still fresh to me. And I know it is very much more so with Janis.

Rest in peace, Cousin Pete.

Cousin Vivian is second from left, her son Jeremy is to her right and her daughter Rebecca is to her left. Cousin Pete is to my right and Cousin Rick (Vivian’s widower) is to my left. Photo taken at Cousin Louis’s memorial service, February 11, 2023

From left, cousins Janis, Pete, and Vivian, February 10, 2023