Roy W. Peters Jr.

SARASOTA, Fla. Roy Webber Peters Jr., 79, a noted sports and business person in the Schenectady, N.Y. area, died on April 6, 2004 in Sarasota, Fla. after a brief illness. Born in Schenectady, N.Y., son of the late Elizabeth and Roy W. Peters Sr., Mr. Peters was a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. He played varsity basketball there for three years, during which time the team lost only one game. He was a captain of the squad his senior year, and was voted area player of the year. He was also captain of the school's golf team. A well-regarded baseball player, he played for the Schenectady Thelens, a semi-pro team. He was offered a contract to play for the Cleveland Indians, but basketball was his first love. Mr. Peters received a full basketball scholarship at Syracuse University, and made the varsity his freshman year. After that season, March of 1943, he entered the U.S. Army, where he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne paratrooper unit. Mr. Peters took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. His unit was the first group dropped and during the course of the battle he was captured and sent to a German prisoner of war camp in Mooseburg, Germany. He escaped from the camp on May 1, 1945, just prior to the end of the war. After the war, Mr. Peters returned to Syracuse University, where he captained both the 1946 and 1947 basketball teams. His outstanding play and leadership earned him numerous honors, including being voted to various collegiate all-star teams. These Syracuse teams were the first in the school's history to be selected to play in the NIT and NCAA basketball tournaments. He completed his college education at Siena College, where he also starred on the basketball team and led them to an invitation to play in the National Catholic College Tournament. He was selected as an all-east all star. Despite playing at Siena for only one year, in 1973 Mr. Peters was elected a member of the Siena Sports Hall Of Fame. After graduation, Mr. Peters was offered a contract to play with the Syracuse Nationals basketball team, predecessor to today's Philadelphia 76'ers. But instead he decided to enter the business world and became a successful insurance agent. He was active in numerous community activities and was the first New York State Commissioner of Off Track Betting for a brief period of time. In addition to his success on the basketball court, Mr. Peters was also an avid golfer, winning many local amateur tournaments. While residing for a brief period in Santa Barbara, Calif., he won the 1961 Santa Barbara City Championship. He was a long-time member of the Mohawk Golf Club, where he served in numerous capacities including being the greens chairman for a number of years. Mr. Peters is survived by his wife Lorraine (Bootier); sons, David, Gary, Stephen and Jeffrey; grandchildren, Brandie, Brett, Dylan and Samantha; and four step-children, Diane, Charles, Jefferey and James Juracka. He was predeceased by his first wife Mary (Gazeley) and a sister, Sally McMullen. Funeral services were private at the request of the family. A memorial service for friends and family will be held May 15, 2004 at 10 a.m. at The First Reform Church, 8 North Church Street (corner of Union St.), Schenectady. Memorial donations may be made to The Hospice of SW Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Fl. 34238