Stephen Peters
1954 - 2017
Stephen Peters
1954 - 2017
Obituary
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Stephen Peters Obituary
Hardwick - Stephen F. Peters of Hardwick, MA passed away unexpectedly on July 20, 2017. He was 62.
Stephen was born on August 21, 1954 in Schenectady, NY to Roy W. Peters and Mary L. (Gazeley) Peters, both deceased. He was a 1972 graduate of Linton High School in Schenectady, a 1976 graduate of Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, and received his Master's degree in Education from UMASS Amherst in 1988. Stephen initially worked as a teacher and athletic coach at Eagle Hill School in Hardwick, MA, and for the last 27 years as Psychologist for Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley, MA.
Although never married, Stephen considered his colleagues at Shepherd Hill an extended family and cared very much for all of the students he worked with and helped guide toward adulthood. He was very highly regarded by all he interfaced with, made a tremendous impact, and his contributions will be greatly missed.
In his spare time he enjoyed the outdoors, especially working on the landscaping around his house, as well as fishing during family trips to Lake George.
Stephen is survived by brothers David and sister-in-law Bonnie (Chester Springs, PA), and Jeff and sister-in-law Wendi (Charlotte, NC). He is also survived by nieces Brandie Peters Schaffchick (husband Lucas) and Samantha Peters and nephews Brett Peters (wife Alyson) and Dylan Peters as well as great nephews Crosby and Cole Schaffchick and Conner Peters. Stephen was predeceased by his brother Gary.
Cremation services will be private at the request of the family. Arrangements were made by Varnum Funeral Home in West Brookfield, MA. Condolences can be posted on the funeral home web site: www.varnumfuneralhome.com.
A memorial service to celebrate Stephen's life will be held at the Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley, MA at 6:00PM on Friday, August 4. All are welcome to attend and remember the spirit and accomplishments of this remarkable person.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, 1270 Belmont Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12308 in honor of the long-standing relationship between Stephen's family (his grandfather was founder of the Department for Orthopedic Surgery there) and Sunnyview.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Meghan
July 24, 2023
Missing you always and love you forever.
Kayla Gorski
July 23, 2023
Miss and think of you everyday! Wish I could share so many beautiful stories and memories with you. Hope you are watching over us all and proud of not only us but the everlasting impact you had on so many peoples lives. I don't know where I would be today if it weren't for you.
Meghan
July 22, 2022
Still missing you 5 years later. I hope you´re proud of me. The world isn´t the same without you.
Wendy Sprous
February 5, 2019
You are still missed so much. I always enjoyed seeing you do yard work at the house on Church Street. You were so friendly and cheerful and went about your work with a smile on your face. I will always remember how proud you and your partner were of the rehab job you did on that house. You were so excited that you had to show it off to my family and of course we enjoyed the tour of what you and your partner had accomplished. You took a house that truly looked like a dump complete with cabinets and stuff someone had ripped out of the house and just left in the yard and turned it into a beautiful home that you caringly rented out to several people over the years whom we enjoyed being neighbors with. Thank you so much for cleaning up that property and bringing in some of the best neighbors we ever had. Unfortunately my last memory of you will haunt me for a very long time and I won't forget what a great man you were. I miss seeing your smiling face and friendly waves.
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Caitlin McIntire
August 5, 2017
Stephen and I bonded right away over our agreement that being "weird" wasn't a bad thing. From then on, we always qualified whether the subject of our conversation was "good weird" or "bad weird."
I remember how immune he was to manipulation attempts. The kids always felt comfortable enough to try, but they'd never succeed, and when they did try, he would laugh at them.
He brought in the gifts he got for his nieces and nephews, puzzle boxes and the like. He knew how to crack them open, but he'd let me try and I'd never get it. He thought they were so neat, and I wholeheartedly agreed with him. How lucky, I thought, to have an uncle like that.
Stephen's favorite story to tell me was how his brother would fall asleep at night ramming his head repeatedly into the headboard of his bed. I would say it was very odd, but Stephen always said something along the lines of, "Everyone has their ways, and it worked for him," and he'd smile. Always smiling.
There are many more memories I could share, but I think the most important thing I can remember is this: The world may have lost him, but the sky gained a new star. If you look, you will find him. Earth will go no less than one hundred years before it finds someone as unbelievable incredible as Stephen Peters.
Goodbye, my friend. Your family is beautiful and they will see you in Heaven, but hopefully not for a long, long time.
Daniel Daigle
August 1, 2017
He was a good man he was my psychologist in school
July 30, 2017
What a life changing man. I don't know how I would've gotten through high school without him. You will be missed dearly.
Sean Gilrein
July 30, 2017
Please accept my deepest sympathies upon the tragic passing of our friend and colleague Stephen.
Steve was an outstanding educator, mentor and counselor who cared deeply and passionately about his students and fellow staff members. Throughout the years he touched the lives of so many who will undoubtedly, as I will, carry him in their memory, and remember the kindness he extended and the good-positive nature he modeled each and every day. The depth of Steve's involvement and commitment to his students and our district can never be overstated. The results of Stephen's outstanding work and his beneficial influence on all those who knew and loved him will live on. His passing is greatly felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
May the sense of loss and grief that you and your family are experiencing now be somewhat softened by the knowledge that we, the Dudley-Charlton Regional family, share it as well.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Retired Superintendent of School
Sutton Allain
July 28, 2017
You were taken away from us all too soon in a tragic accident. You will always be in our hearts forever. You were loved by your family, friends, so many students, parents, co-workers, colleagues and many others that you have helped over the years while working at SHRHS. You are irreplaceable because you are a one of a kind man. We will miss you, but will never forget you. May you rest in peace and enjoy your yard work, fishing, and keep teaching and helping the SHRHS students who have passed away too soon as well. We have crossed paths in our lives for a reason and I thank God for that every day. Because you were meant to be a big positive support for my son in school and I can't thank you enough for it. ✝
Gil LAwrence
July 28, 2017
Fate set us up as room mates at Hartwick and fate allowed me to find you 2 years ago after a long search. Rest in Peace my friend. Gil Lawrence
Meghan Aucoin
July 28, 2017
You gave me hope in my darkest days. You were my best friend when I felt abandoned. Your support and love over the last 14 years has completely shaped the person I am today. I know you'll always be there for me - your physical absence can't change that.
Kayla Gorski (Konicki)
July 28, 2017
You were a truly amazing, kind, caring and loving person. All of your guidance and friendship will stay with me for the rest of my life. I am blessed to have known you and shared the time we had together. My deepest condolences to your family.
Kayla Gorski (Konicki)
Francis Mcelroy
July 28, 2017
You will be missed. You were a great person. Sorry for our loss. Prayers are there and always love mcelroy family
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