Peter Semple Ness

1939 - 2024

Peter Semple Ness
Peter Semple Ness passed away on October 1, 2024, at Nathaniel Witherell in Greenwich, CT. He was 85. A longtime resident of Greenwich, he is now at peace with his wife, Christine Ness, who predeceased him.
Born May 21, 1939, in Baltimore, Peter is the son of Philip and Nancy Ness. Peter was known for his gregarious spirit and sharp intellect. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, he had a personality that fit his size. He loved his family and was an adoring grandfather. Peter attended Deerfield Academy in Mass. and Yale University. He received a law degree from Columbia University. Peter took great pride in Deerfield and Yale and, overall, in the importance of education. An avid tennis and squash player, Peter loved the family doubles matches, laughter around the dinner table, and long afternoons in the garden. In 1976, he married Christine Ness and was with her when she passed away in 2019. Each was a character in their own right; they loved entertaining and were known for their celebratory Thanksgiving parties.
A brilliant lawyer, Peter joined the law firm Shearman & Sterling in New York before moving to Dun & Bradstreet. He served as counsel at Continental Can Company in Chicago and then joined General Foods in White Plains, NY, where he worked in mergers and acquisitions. He was hired at Chase Manhattan Bank, now JPMorgan Chase Bank, and then went out on his own, working on real estate development projects.
Peter volunteered in the 1970s at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Long Island College Hospital, where he served on the board. He also did volunteer work for Greenwich Hospital. Peter was a devoted member of Christ Church. He loved organ and choir music, which he played at high volume while working on projects.
He is survived by his stepson, Alexander H. Williams IV (Judy) of Portland, Ore.; his stepdaughter, Ashley Madden (John) of North Hampton, NH; his stepdaughter-in-law Shane Willliams-Ness of Litchfield, CT, and five grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Christine, Peter was predeceased by his stepson, James Daniel Williams-Ness, in 2022.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or Greenwich Hospital. The family plans a private memorial service later this Fall.