Peter Yard

YARD, PETER, 54 - of Seaville, died suddenly late Wednesday night at home, following a long battle with diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. He was born January 28, 1954 at Shore Memorial Hospital and grew up in McKee City. He was a 1972 graduate of Oakcrest High School and attended Richard Stockton College. He lived in Ocean City for many years before moving to Seaville about 16 years ago. Well known for his wit and sense of humor, Pete was a man of wide ranging interests and talents, who held many jobs over the years. He worked as a graphic artist, a freelance photographer, a manager for storage facilities and in other positions, but he primarily considered himself a writer and enjoyed any job that gave him an opportunity to work with words. Prior to his most recent illness, he was employed by Atlantic City Weekly as listings editor. He worked in the composing room of the Ocean City Sentinel Ledger from 1978 to 1984 and at The Press of Atlantic City from 1985 to 1994. He also worked in production for the Current newspapers. As a freelance writer, he contributed articles to many area publications including The Press, Casino Journal and Casino Player, Whoot, Atlantic City Monthly and others. A movie buff, he particularly enjoyed covering entertainment topics, and doing movie, theater and restaurant reviews. His most recent article, which profiled several well-known area landscape artists, appeared in the May-June issue of Cape May Magazine. He coauthored a trivia book, "The Bathroom Entertainment Book," and a script he wrote for a promotional video for PennCo Tech was a finalist for a Telly Award in 1998. He loved Star Trek, James Bond, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd movies, trains, science and his cat, Abby. Pete is survived by a sister, Nancy Dayton, of Harrisburg, a niece, Kelly Dayton, and nephew, Kevin Dayton, several grandnieces and nephews, and his longtime companion, Mona Moore, with whom he lived. A Service of Memory and Love will be offered Saturday evening at 7 o'clock at The Godfrey Funeral Home of Palermo, 644 South Shore Road, Palermo, where friends may call from 5 o'clock until time of service. Burial will be private and at his family's convenience. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Community Food Bank, 6735 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234.