Peter Wilde Ganyard was born September 1,1928 in Berkeley, California to Mervin Bryant Ganyard and Leslie Wilde Ganyard. On his mother’s side he descended from one of the original Anglo families to settle in Alta California before much of the West was annexed by the US after the Mexican-American War. His mother’s family pursued ranching, farming, business, and oil development near Santa Barbara, and in Ventura founded the oldest mercantile business in California. His father’s side was also a western frontier family, managing gold and silver mines in Virginia City, Nevada, and Mammoth Lakes California.
Peter grew up in San Francisco, where he attended US Grant School and Lowell High School. From age eight he swam for the Olympic Club and at the famous seawater-filled Fleishhacker Pool. As a 12-year-old he won the city freestyle championship. A highlight of his swimming days was being chosen for a demonstration swimming contest against Johnny Weissmuller, the Olympic champion who later played “Tarzan.” As a Boy Scout, Peter helped protect the city during World War Two by watching for enemy aircraft and submarines, and reminding neighbors to black out their windows at night. Peter spent summers in the High Sierra of California as a camper and later as a trail guide and riding instructor at Blue Jay Camp near Huntington Lake in the Sierra National Forest.
Peter’s parents encouraged him to go to college back East. He graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1950 with a BA in History and Political Science. He was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity. While at Williams, Peter continued to pursue outdoor adventures, often mountain climbing and sleeping under the stars. In 1949, Peter and some friends traveled around Europe in an old Army Jeep, camping in the fields of farmers who invited them to meals. They were among the earliest American civilians to experience postwar Europe.
After graduation, Peter returned to Paris to work for the International Bank of Washington, DC. Peter also served with distinction in the Central Intelligence Agency. He connected with French Resistance contacts to prepare contingency plans for potential Soviet aggression in Western Europe. While in Washington, Peter met Nancy Taylor, who was about to head overseas for graduate work at the Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands. While she was in Europe, Peter enlisted in the Army and attended Officer Candidate School. He trained at Fort Benning as a parachute jumper and was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant. Peter and Nancy were wed in 1953 in her hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Peter and his new bride returned to San Francisco and eventually welcomed sons Stephen and Jeffrey, and daughter Leslie. Peter worked for Wells Fargo Bank and then Merrill Lynch, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and New York City. For over a decade they lived in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, where the entire family was active in Scouting. Peter was a Scoutmaster for Troop 106, and enjoyed backpacking trips and whitewater canoe adventures on the Delaware River with his troop. When not camping with Scouts or exploring historic sites with family, Peter loved to spend weekends sailing on beautiful lakes and playing tennis and paddle with friends. His dogs Coco and Molly were his constant companions. Peter also served as Mountain Lakes volunteer Police Commissioner.
The family relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1980 before settling in Boca Raton, Florida in 1983, where Peter managed a new office for Canadian company Richardson Securities. Upon retirement, Peter enjoyed substitute teaching at Gulf Stream Academy and St. Andrew’s School. He and Nancy were active members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, Florida, where Peter volunteered in community outreach projects and served as an Usher and Stephen Minister. Together they enjoyed several educational journeys with the church to Europe and the Middle East. A lifelong learner, Peter was an avid reader of history, politics, biographies, and adventure. He was well known for his charm and interest in people, and loved to strike up a conversation with a stranger, finding something interesting in everyone he met and always making them feel special and appreciated.
Peter is survived by wife Nancy and their children: Stephen Taylor Ganyard (Chris Hoover), Leslie Ganyard Nutting (Robert), Jeffrey Peter Ganyard. Grandchildren: Peter James Ganyard (Sara Gadoci), Matthew Taylor Ganyard (Marie Zurlo), Caroline Ganyard Sanders (Steven), Cameron Nutting Williams (Christophe), Taylor Wilde Nutting Gúrbacs (Gábor), Lachlan Ogden Nutting, Nina Pauloma Ganyard, Simone Petre Ganyard. Great Grandchildren: Nolan McLain Williams, Savannah Taylor Ganyard, Eliza Wilde Ganyard, Beckett Majure Sanders.
Should friends desire, contributions in Peter’s memory may be sent to the Williams College Outing Club (click here to donate online) or to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach (click here to donate online)
Read More
