PETER TOWNSEND

Janna, I know this is a belated message of condolence. I´ve been thinking about you and had a dream that you, me and Cheryl were hanging out together. I am so sorry for your loss and will continue to keep you and your family in prayer.

When I decided to move from Baltimore to New York, it was Peter and Carmelo who gave me a chance and helped me make the adjustment. There are few people in this world that I admire and Peter was one of them. He was honest, kind and simply put a wonderful human being. One thing that stood out though was his love for his family. He showed me that you could be married and still disagree and be different people. I hope you find strength in knowing how much he loved you all.

Dear Janna, Nina and Lucca,
Remembering the wonderful spaces that Peter created for me and my family--the amazing Warren Street, the most adorable kitchen ever at Horatio Street, and my present kitchen, still a working and delightful space after 15 years. His drawings were exquisite, as were his ideas and his many gifts. My deepest condolences, he was a very special, lucky man.

I remember when Nina and Bo were little, maybe 4 or 5, and Bo went head over heels down your stairs at White St. Janna and I were screaming. Bo got to the bottom and, not hurt, stood up. Peter, like an umpire, declared him safe. We all laughed.

I remember when Matt and I started our first entrepreneurial venture in the early 90's and I was talking to Peter about where I was going to cut costs including karate for Bo. He suggested I not do that because he was sure I would want to kids...

Dear Janna, Nina & Lucca,

Megan, Bowen, Oliver and I are also shocked and saddened by your loss.

Being friends with the Townsends of Tribeca of the '80's, '90's and Oughts, celebrating all the small and big triumphs, all the small and large tragedies including the events of 9/11 - watching you kids and ours get their feet beneath them and becoming wonderful adults meant everything to Peter, as it does me, and I know how proud and pleased he was as a Father and Husband to...

Dear Janna, Lucca, Nina
I am filled with shock and sadness having come upon Peter's obituary in the NYtimes tonight! Peter's warm smile and friendly face came immediately to mind, although it's 20 years since he came to volunteer in Lucca's class at PS 234. He was the ''architect"" of the life size paintings of the Bears, drawn to scale for our bear study. I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you all. Sheila Browning

I will remember the evenings we spent on the boat drifting in the middle of the lake eating black olives, but the time he and I went to Flagstaff Lake is a very special memory. When he cooked I felt as if I was in a small restaurant in New York. I enjoyed watching him swim in the morning from my dock and him stopping by before he went home. He was a good man and those who met him and will soon not forget. Thank you Peter for your recipe of Townsend Tomato's, we still love them to this day....

A testimony to a person's character is that when they are gone, the world isn't quite as sunny, the stars aren't quite as bright. We will miss this kind soul.