Peter H. Sears

I talk about Peter with many of my fellow poets in Oregon. We miss him. I remember how generous and supportive he was of me with gratitude. God bless you, Peter.

Peter is always in our thoughts. We will always treasure his memory and the inspiring times we spent with him.
Nehalem, Peter

Peter was my high school advisor and poetry teacher at Princeton Day School in the mid 70's. 5 years ago I was treated to a reunion with him in Sag Harbor, NY. He gave me poetry and so began for me a life's appreciation of that art, including the audacity to try to write my own. Peter's generosity, his humor, his irreverence will always live with me. Namaste.

Peter was my English teacher at Princeton Day School in the late 70s. He was one of those teachers that you never forget--he was inspiring, supportive and always kind. I feel so lucky to have been taught by him.

Peter Sears was my teacher at Princeton Day School, but more than that, he was a mentor to a small group of of kids, like myself who wanted to write poetry. We met after school, and at least for me, this experience of sharing informally yet intensely, was of real importance. Mr. Sears always found ways to get us to shed pretense without wounding, and encouraged in a way that encompassed more than our literary expression. He had an immense gift for seeing into us and helping us bring out...

Peter and I met early in our freshman year at Yale. The whole class, about 1000 of us, lived around a Commons, which some of us used for touch football games. Peter and I were among the most frequent participants. We also discovered we had other common interests of various sorts.

Speaking of which: One day in our first year, Peter spoke about an amazing movie he had just seen, Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal. Because of Peter's urging, I went that afternoon. Whew! I've seen it since...

I knew Peter as a teacher and a fellow poet and am grateful for that privilege. I remember his dry wit, his incisive intelligence, and his willingness to wrestle with poems to make them unique statements. As Oregon Poet Laureate, he sought to include everyone in his travels who wanted to write poetry. That and his commitment to excavating each poet's unique voice is an incalculable contribution to the poets of Oregon. Thank you, Peter, and Godspeed.

What a void this will leave. A warm, generous man who wrote so well. My sincere sympathy to Anita. With my good wishes.