PETER GUSTAF KARLSON

1943 - 2021

KARLSON, Peter Gustaf Of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach, Florida, and former long term resident of Boston, MA, died peacefully in Nantucket, on Tuesday, November 9, of natural causes.

Peter, 78, was born on January 29, 1943, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He attended Worcester Academy where he excelled as both student and athlete. At Middlebury College, he was the Captain of the Basketball team and a member of the Sigma Epsilon Fraternity, where he graduated in 1965. Peter went on to receive his MA in accounting from Northeastern University and was employed by Ernst & Ernst.

Peter's career achievements included CFO at John Hancock Property & Casualty Insurance Company. He was an investor/developer at Commercial Wharf, Boston. For forty-one years Peter was the Owner and Operator of the Summer House on Nantucket with his wife, Danielle deBenedictis, where he excelled at putting the legendary restaurant and inn on the international map. He and Danielle were avid travelers and left an indelible impression and touched the hearts of many friends worldwide.

Peter was a Member of the Mar-a-Lago Club and the Sconset Casino, and a former Member of the Board of the Boston Jaycees and Worcester Academy.

A devoted family man, Peter extended his heart-of-gold to his community, always evincing a stellar, often impish, sense of humor. He was a good listener and advisor. He deeply cared for people and never allowed the noise of opinion to drown out his inner voice, his spirit, and his passion for the positive. Peter had the courage to follow his intuition... to follow his heart. Clever with his questions and wise with his answers, Peter will be greatly missed by his world-wide circle of friends.

Peter is survived by his loving wife of forty-three years, Danielle deBenedictis; by his son Christopher P. Karlson, of Greenville, South Carolina, and daughter-in-law Lindsey; his daughter, Francesca deBenedictis Karlson of Palm Beach and Nantucket, Massachusetts. He was a loving grandfather to his grandsons, Andre D. Karlson of Palm Beach & Nantucket, Massachusetts and Marcus Gaynor of Hyannis. He is survived by his sister, Donna Karlson of Orleans, Massachusetts; sister-in-law, Trisha Karlson of Orleans; brother-in law, Louis C. deBenedictis of Milton, Massachusetts, as well as loving Uncle to Jill Forstell of Long Island, New York, Joy Walsh of St. Albans, Vermont, Jaye Shore of Atlanta, Georgia, Jodi Schaefer of Long Island, New York, and Erick Karlson of Portland, Oregon.

The Funeral Mass will be held at St Mary's Catholic Church on Federal Street, Nantucket, at 2pm on Friday,

December 3, 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Middlebury College, in memory of the Peter

G. Karlson fund for Scholar/Athletes.