Patrick J. PEAK

1912 - 2014

Patrick Joseph Peak, of Manchester, the husband of the late Mary Tierney Peak, passed away on Saturday, (January 25, 2014) at the age of 101. Born on June 25, 1912 he was the son of the late John Peak and Elizabeth Brady Peak. Patrick immigrated to the US from Scotland in 1920 via Ellis Island when he was 9 years old. He recalled being separated from his family on the ship and living in steerage with strangers speaking foreign languages. Patrick left school early to go to work, first delivering telegrams by bicycle in Hartford. After working at the Aetna during the depression, he was employed by Pratt and Whitney during World War II and trained as a machinist, which was his occupation for 35 years. Although he had little formal education, he pursued reading with a passion all his life and instilled a love of learning in his children. He loved libraries and particularly enjoyed books on world exploration and history. Patrick also enjoyed camping with his family for many years. He enjoyed the arts and was self taught in photography, oil painting, playing the violin, harmonica and guitar. He was "dapper" and gentlemanly and he enjoyed a great, wry sense of humor and was always pleasantly polite. He is survived by his daughter Julie McAuley and her special friend Lou Martocchio, son Jack Peak and his wife Joan Ford; his sister Margaret Modzelewski of Bloomfield, grandson Brian McAuley and his wife Jill of Sanford, FL, granddaughter Kelley Gronda and her husband Rob of Chevy Chase, MD, grandsons Patrick G. Peak and his wife Aerin of Silver Springs, MD; and Matthew Peak and his wife Mary Grace of Manchester. He also leaves six great-grandchildren Hailey, Brady and Zachary McAuley; Emma and Liam Gronda and Mia Peak. He also leaves many nephews and nieces. In the past 12 years, he had made numerous friends at Bennet Apartments on Main St. in Manchester. Besides his wife, Mary, he was predeceased by six brothers and sisters.

Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St., Manchester on Friday, January 31 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to "Friends of the Manchester Public Library," c/o Mary Cheney Library, 586 Main St., Manchester, CT 06040. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhhome.com.