Peter McSpadden

McSpadden , Peter F.
Peter Ford McSpadden, former President of Saatchi & Saatchi died peacefully on Sunday morning the 13th of March at the age of 85. Peter was an avid father, loving husband, brother, and a long-time advertising executive, with a passion for the business and creative process. Peter grew up in Montclair, NJ with his parents, Janet and Chester McSpadden, and younger sister Linda. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1952, and enlisted in the Navy where he became an Naval Air Intelligence Officer assigned to the staff of Commander Carrier Division Three which ran air strikes into Korea. When discharged he moved to New York, where he met his wonderful wife, Barbara. He spent the bulk of his career at the New York agency, Dancer Fitzgerald Sample where he rose to become President, Chief Operating Officer. When DFS and Saatchi and Saatchi Compton merged, he assumed the Presidency of the combined company. Mr. McSpadden was a past Director of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, the American Advertising Federation, and the National Advertising Review Board. Peter and Barbara resided in Riverside, CT for 55 years. They formed an exceptionally close group of life-long friends, and raised three sons. He and Barbara were members of the Riverside Yacht Club, He was active on the Connecticut political scene, serving as campaign manager for Senator Lowell Weicker's successful bids for Congress (1968) and the Senate (1970, 1976, 1982.) Peter was predeceased in 2015 by his wife, Barbara, and leaves behind his sister Linda Nelson, three grown sons, Douglas (Carmen), David (Christine), Peter C. and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at The First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich on April 16 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the charity of your choice, or to the Farnsworth Museum at 16 Museum St., Rockland, ME 04841.