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HOPKINTON - Peter Y. Lovejoy passed away peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at home.
Peter was born Sept. 25, 1937, in Concord, the son of Theodore and Esther (York)
Lovejoy. He graduated from Concord High School in 1955 and the University of New Hampshire in
1960. After graduating, Peter began teaching at Simonds Free High School in Warner and then went on
to teach at Kearsarge Regional High School. While there, he was the cross country and track and field
coach.
After retiring from teaching, Peter earned a M.S. from Springfield College (1985) and then a PhD from
Arizona State University (1988) in sports psychology. Peter taught sports psychology for one year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before returning to Warner. He coached cross country and track and field at Souhegan High School.
Peter was a dealer and collector of early American advertising. He and his partner, John Eastman,
opened and ran Town Tree Antiques in Warner in the 1970s and then he ran his own retail business,
Blue Tiger Antiques.
Peter enjoyed traveling and had driven across this country nine times with one memorable camping trip
to Alaska in 2007 with his wife. He also enjoyed sailing, biking, hiking and camping with his family.
Peter is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth (Bunker) Lovejoy; his son, Mark Lovejoy and his wife, Dawn, of Andover, Mass.; his daughter, Martha Lovejoy and her husband, George Schell, of Hopkinton; and grandchildren, Brendan and Connor Pauley and Bin-Bin Schell.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 11 a.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Hopkinton. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the New Hampshire Track & Field
Coaches Association, in care of Lebanon High School, 195 Hanover St., Lebanon, N.H. 03766.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Betty, Mark, Martha and families:
We offer our sincere condolances with the passing of Pete. He was a truely compassonate person who always seemed to find the motivational trigger to help people find their successes. He had profound influences on his athletes and students and will be truely missed. It was an honor to be a fellow educator with him.
Don and Ann Jones
January 10, 2013
Coach Lovejoy was such a dedicated coach who did what not many coaches are able to do and inspired his athletes to be better runners and better people. He was a great teacher and roll model. He will be greatly missed although I am certain his memory will live on in the many lives he touched through teaching and coaching. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.
Vanessa Patten
January 7, 2013
It is hard to overstate the impact Peter had on my life. He recruited me to run track my freshman year at Kearsarge, igniting a passion that I have till this day.
As a coach and teacher, he was a master motivator and story teller. He had a way of instilling upon you that what you did was important, and made you want to do your very best. From day one, you could see his passion for coaching. He put so much time into his athletes.
Through the years, Peter became a friend who I always looked forward to running into at track meets. Talking to Peter about track or anything else never grew old.
It is hard for me to imagine just how different my life would be if my freshman history teacher didn't convince me to run track back in 1974. I am so thankful that he did!
Betty, Mark and Martha, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you can take comfort in the positive impact that Peter had on so many.
Guy
KRHS Class of 1977
Guy Stearns
January 7, 2013
Mr Lovejoy was one of my favorite teachers, and I was so sorry to learn of his passing. I always enjoyed running into him at antiques events, and so enjoyed his wonderful sense of humor. My deepest sympathy to all of his family. Cathy (Bartlett) Conseentino
January 5, 2013
My sympathies to the Lovejoy Family. Mr. Lovejoy was a kind and thoughtful man, and brought a warm sense of humor to both his teaching and his coaching. He helped me to begin the transformation from bookworm to athlete, and for that I'll always be grateful.
January 5, 2013
Sorry for your loss he was an intelligent teacher who thrived on teaching his students about the world around them. He will be greatly missed. Hiedi knapp class of 83
January 5, 2013
You will be missed by so many.Thise who had you as a teacher were lucky. you will be missed. Elvena Andersin class of 1982
Elvena Anderson
January 4, 2013
I was at Simonds from 58 to 60 and recall Pete Lovejoy for his youthful look and pleasant personality. He was a very nice man. I wish him peace and send his family my condolences.
Charles Black
January 4, 2013
Martha, I am so sorry for the loss of you dad. I met your folks only one or twice but always was impressed with how wonderful they were and how fortunate you are to have such lovely parents. love to you in this sad time. jen
January 4, 2013
Coach Lovejoy was a very special man. He helped me realize my full potential through running track, teaching me determination, hard work and passion for what I love. I ran like the wind for him, for me...for our team. He was a gentle and sincere coach. My condolences to Mrs. Lovejoy, (who was my art teacher at the Newbury Elementary School in 1971-ish and inspired me to become an art teacher as well), Mark and Martha (my friend and classmate) and their families. Thank goodness for the memories.
Dawn Bennett Bechtold
January 4, 2013
Mr. Peter Lovejoy... so many memories of him. He had such a huge impact on our lives during our formative years: track practices, long talks on drives to track meets, sailing on the J-24. To the Lovejoy family, my sincere condolences and he will be missed.
Lindsey Anne (Johnson) Wild
KRHS Class of 1982
Lindsey Wild
January 4, 2013
Just a nice man....a wonderful teacher..God Bless!
Carolyn Dunn Valiquet
January 4, 2013
I am so sorry to hear of Mr Lovejoy's passing. I had him as a teacher at Simonds. I graduated in 1964. My thoughts are with his family.
Gail Whitman
January 4, 2013
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
Wanda/Harry Anderson
January 4, 2013
My sincere sympathies to the Lovejoy family. Mr Lovejoy was one of my favorite teachers at Simonds Free High School.
Kathy Hemphill Dalrymple class of 1964.
January 4, 2013
Martha, so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your whole family. Love and Hugs, Pam
Pam McDowell
January 4, 2013
My sincere condolences to the family and friends. I will always remember Peter and Betty as they were when Martha and I were in Middle School and High School; in their thirties and forties at their beautiful home in Warner. And later as we cruised through our thirties and forties Peter and Betty were a good example of how to live outdoors, independent, and happy. I'm very pleased to see Peter wearing a Portland Sea Dogs hat, another example of Peter's impeccable taste.
Annie
January 4, 2013
So sorry to hear of Mr. Lovejoy's passing. I was a student of his at KRHS . My thoughts are with his family.
Paula Violette Brown
January 4, 2013
So sorry to hear about Mr Lovejoy.He was the best running coach I had in my formative years. And every time I would run Kearsarge I would remember him making us run it in school.
January 4, 2013
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