Peter Eustis

Of Portsmouth, Virginia died on January 24, 2008 at home surrounded by his family. He was born on February 4, 1923, the son of Frederic A. Eustis and Edith Tileston Eustis of Milton, Ma. He attended Milton Academy and graduated from Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Harvard College, where he majored in chemistry. He served as a first lieutenant in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946 he moved to Virginia to work for the family business, Virginia Chemicals for 40 years as an officer and director. In 1947 he married Anne Hall Duncan of Cambridge, MA. He summered at his family home on Scraggy Neck in Cataumet, MA and enjoyed spending time with his extended family. He was committed to helping his community and was involved in many local charities and community organizations, including Saint Christopher's Episcopal Church, The United Way, Rotary, The Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission, and Norfolk Academy. He was chosen the First Citizen of Portsmouth in 1983 for his exceptional and dedicated service to the citizens of Portsmouth and Tidewater, VA. He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Anne Duncan Eustis, four children, Frederic Augustus Eustis, III of Westport, MA, Robert Duncan Eustis of Sudbury, MA, Helen Eustis Ederer of Vero Beach, FL, and Anne Eustis Hough of Brookline, MA; four grandchildren, and a brother, William Ellery Channing Eustis of Venice, Florida and numerous other relatives in Massachusetts. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 2 at 11:00 am at St. Christopher's Church in Portsmouth. A memorial service will be held this summer on Cape Cod. In lieu of flowers contributions can be sent to EVMS-Glennan Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, P.O. Box 5, Norfolk, Virginia 23501. The family is grateful to the many excellent caregivers for all of their love and kindness. Peter Eustis will be remembered as a true gentleman who was determined to improve the quality of life of all of those around him.