Thomas A. DePeter

Looking for life time crush from high school, and found he had passed away. I was glad to learn of his wonderful life and legacy. Tommy was an adorable boy. Quiet and under appreciated. I kissed him at a bar after graduation and never forgot him.

I took "Literature of the Absurd" as an elective course my junior year at Newton High School (1972) with Mr. DePeter. I had coasted through all my classes did the bare minimum and never reached my potential. Mr. DePeter was one of the few teacher I had that had a standard and you were expected to meet it or go beyond. He gave me a D for the class only because I think the administration frowned on Fs! Yet the lesson learned from him has stuck with me for life. As much as I hated him for it at...

Tom and I spent a great deal of time driving back and forth from Long Island to Worcester (Assumption College). I was the senior with the car and he the freshman. We also enjoyed hours playing together on the Greyhound baseball team. He was an awesome fellow, obviously a special teacher, great coach, and tremendous father to his lovely children, of whom he was effusively proud. We spoke recently and were attempting to make plans to get together sometime this year - he in MA and me in FL. He...

In the winter and spring of 1992, I was Tom DePeter's student teacher. Without question, the transformative experience of my career. Nearly twenty years later, I still hear his voice and imagine the questions he might ask. And I see those small, dazzling eyes and that wry smile. A thousand miles away, his spirit lives on in my classrooms. It is with deep gratitude and a terrible sadness that I write these words tonight.

So sorry to hear about your loss. Our families grew up near each other on Long Island and the DePeter kids were friends with the Brophy kids.Some great memories there. We lost Joe in February so we understand your loss. Would love to hear from Noreen...contact me.

I had the great pleasure of being in several plays directed by Tom DePeter, and remember with fondness his intelligence, humor, and dry wit. He was a wonderful man of the theater, and helped me understand the importance of clarity and communication. As a professional actor in New York, I haven't run into many directors who could hold a candle to his commitment and warmth, and I know so many other of his former students will miss him, and remember him with gratitude. Thank you so much, Tom,...

As the mother of two daughters, Simone and Sarah Kearney, who learned so much from Mr. DePeter, as an English teacher and a theater director, I want to say how sorry I am to hear of his passing. He made such a difference to their lives in Newton North High School (between 2000-2005).
Anne Bernard Kearney (Newton, MA)

Mr. DePeter was one of my favorite teachers in high school or college. The lessons I learned in his class directly contributed to my success down the road. I also appreciated his enthusiasm for lacrosse - especially the NNHS vs LS rivalry throughout the early 90s. Best wishes to his family.