Harry E. Peden Jr.

HARRY E. PEDEN JR.

well-known in the community as an attorney and civic leader, and a resident of Greenwich for almost half a century, died on July 20, 2006 in Greenwich. Mr. Peden was born in Norwalk, CT on January 14, 1923, the only child of Helen Irving Peden and Harry E. Peden. He grew up in Norwalk and attended Norwalk High School, excelling both academically and on the playing fields and hockey rink. Graduating from Norwalk High at an early age, he completed secondary school education at Williston Academy, in Easthampton, Massachusetts, before matriculating to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he continued to be both a scholar and an athlete. In 1942, while still at Brown, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a B-17 pilot. During WWII, he married Trinette Stewart of Norwalk, Connecticut, his childhood sweetheart and wife for 62 years. After the war, and recuperation as the sole survivor of an airplane crash in the service, he finished his college education at Brown and his legal education at St. John's University in New York. He began practicing law in Greenwich in 1951 in a firm then known as Hirschberg Pettengill & Strong (now Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan). While practicing law, he attended New York University School of Law in the evenings, earning a prestigious Master of Law degree in taxation. With real estate and land use as a specialty, he developed a widespread legal practice and became involved personally in real estate development and construction, which included building many homes in the community. He was an active participant and leader in numerous municipal and charitable organizations, including the RTM for over 30 years, the Town of Greenwich Building Board of Appeals, the Greenwich Family YMCA (where he was also a member for five decades), the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Acacia Lodge #85, Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons, and the First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Peden was an avid gardener, reader and weightlifter, pursuing these activities, as well as practicing law, until just a few months prior to his death. He is survived by his wife, Trinette C. Peden, of Greenwich ; four children, Harry E. Peden III, of Greenwich, Jeffrey J. Peden, of South Dennis, Massachusetts, Helen E. Wells, of Lucasville, Ohio and Jay Stewart Peden, of Greenwich; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service in celebration of Mr. Peden's life will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2006 at 9:30 am at the Second Congregational Church, 139 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT, Reverend William Evertsberg of the First Presbyterian Church, to preside. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Mr. Peden to the Greenwich Family YMCA Capital Fund, 50 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT.

Harry was loved, and will be missed, by his clients, colleagues, friends and, most of all, his family.