Obituary: George Peters

George Peters, 81, formerly of Longboat Key, died Oct. 11.

Born March 4, 1932, in Manhattan, N.Y., he grew up in Queens, N.Y., and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Columbia University and began his career in electronic systems at ITT in Nutley, N.J.

He married Betty Jean Finlay in August 1958, and the couple lived in Wayne, N.J., for 20 years. In 1960, they bought property on Lake Champlain, Vt., and Mr. Peters designed, ordered the materials and physically built their summer home. To easily travel from New Jersey to Vermont, he purchased a Cessna and got his pilot’s license.

When they retired in 1978 to Longboat Key, they began sailing and cruised 50,000 miles in U.S. waters and the Bahamas. Later, they began traveling in an RV and visited every state on the continent and nearly every Canadian province.

Mr. Peters served as commander of the Sarasota Power Squadron and was a member of the Longboat Key Coast Guard Flotilla. The couple moved in 2006 to Plymouth Harbor.

He was serving as president of the Plymouth Harbor Residents Association this year.

Mr. Peters is survived by his wife, B.J., who wishes to thank Dr. Mark Phillips and the staff at Smith Care Center and Tidewell Hospice.

A celebration of life will take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 8, at Plymouth Harbor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Plymouth Harbor Employee Assistance fund, PlymouthHarbor.org, or to Sarasota Power and Sail Squadron Educational Trust Fund, sarasotaboating.org, or a nonprofit organization of your choice.