Peter Bernhard

Bernhard, Peter
Born on November 14, 1935 in Manhattan, NY, Peter fondly referred to as "Pop-Pop" or "Poppy" passed away peacefully at his home in Milford. CT on January 24, 2017 surrounded by his family. He was the son of the late Helen Hotchkiss Bernhard and the late Manfred E. Bernhard. Peter was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He was a lover of life, living it to the fullest (avid skier, hiker, biker, gardener, cook, animal lover and world traveler). He was a lover of adventure, living on the edge, and he was a successful and hardworking restaurant owner and a US Navy veteran. As a young man, Peter began a successful restaurant career managing Big Boy Restaurants in Oklahoma and then New Hampshire. In 1966, he moved to Weston, CT with his young family and in 1967 opened the Peppermill Restaurant in Westport, CT and then in 1969 opened The Peppermill/The Gathering in Milford CT. Over the next 15 years, Peter opened other steak and seafood restaurants on the East Coast until retiring 1995. Peter's love of life, adventure and travel took him all over the world skiing, hiking, sightseeing and exploring. Peter leaves behind three daughters, Kim Stapleton, Terri Finch and her husband, Rocco Frank and Jennifer Bernhard, all of Milford, CT; five beautiful grandchildren, Caitlin and Kevin Stapleton, Brianna Queiros (husband Jason), Lea Finch and Olivia Bernhard; two great-grandchildren, Gwen and Wesley Queiros; brothers, Woody Bernhard and his wife Susan Kunhardt, of Marlboro, VT and Robert Bernhard and his wife Eva Bernhard of San Francisco, CA and sisters Lucienne Bernhard of Meadow Vista, CA, Damaris Bernhard of Brattleboro, VT, and the late Mercedes Bernhard; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. The family will be holding a private gathering and remembrance. Please kindly consider a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/Donate.