Peter G. Briggs

I would be glad to share additional recollections of Peter with any of his family and friends - "John Barrett" I remember he was a champion arms-wrestler with great strength in his hands and forearms and enjoyed competition. He had a gap between his two upper front teeth + liked to spit beer through the gap, He was an English major in college.

Peter believed in me and hired me as a co-teacher in the Kindergarten at GCDS in 1980 when I had just returned from a dozen years in London with a first and a fourth grader and only 2 years of college. He sent me to the Gesell Institute at Yale and put me in the capable hands of Master Teacher Nancy Bliss. Thus began my learning and teaching adventure which led me back to college and grad school twice over. I shall always be grateful to Peter for seeing my potential and helping me to launch back into life in the US. Farewell to a mentor and friend. And my condolences to your family.

Peter Briggs was an exceptional person in every way you could define that term. He was competitive and liked to excel, whether in an athletic contest or an act of incredible human kindness. He is a person who occupied each room he entered which made being around him fun, rewarding and educational for all of those privileged to do so.

I was blessed to be able to work with Peter first when I was Chair of the Search Committee for the Head of School at Greenhill, and later when I was Chair of the Board. It was a productive time with Peter and fun at every step along the way.

Peter was a man of so many talents including traits that nominally seemed to conflict: he was tall and physically tough, but he was a softie when dealing with people; he was confident and strong-willed, but he was an avid listener and taker of advice; he was erudite and well-educated, but he could drink a beer and tell stories with the boys; he always wanted rapid improvement, but he had the patience to allow people to catch up with his vision; he knew of his manifold accomplishments, but he always pushed himself to do more; and he enjoyed combat, but he also enjoyed love.

Others will talk of the impact that he made at various places, but at Greenhill School, you can objectively say that the school was transformed during his tenure. The academic performance and reputation of the school grew, the arts flourished, the athletic teams achieved record victories, the faculty and staff excelled, the diversity was broadened and increased, the physical plant was hugely expanded and the endowment grew. Peter arrived as a product of New England but quickly adopted Texas and its culture to the benefit of all of us.

Working with him was so much fun. He would sometimes make a bold statement, but all it took was a reply of, “Are you kidding me?” and then you saw his eyes twinkle and his smile grow, and suddenly you were embraced by his warmth. He had an incredible ability to objectively see himself and to fairly characterize his performance and his actions. That made him an incredibly inspiring leader.

What else could he have done in life well lived after being a gifted student and athlete, graduating from a famous prep school and elite colleges, serving his country in the military, establishing a hugely positive record as the leader of two of our country's elite schools, building a wonderful marriage with Maura, raising a great family, and being a fantastic father and grandfather? Peter had it all. Peter did it all. And, he took us along for a great ride.

A light has gone out but his memory will not be extinguished. Hail Peter, one of the best! Farewell, good friend.

Ron Nash

I walked into Peter's office at Country Day in March, 1989 and he said quickly, "Well, Shaun, you've been teaching in Newton as I did; I see you went to Harvard as well, and you're a fellow Bostonian. Accordingly, I am going to take you to what you and I would call a 'sub shop.'"

We got into his car, drove to Cos Cob, and within fifteen minutes, chewing away on a wedge, he offered me a contract to teach and coach in the Middle School as we were sitting at a picnic bench at Rinaldi's!

For the next three years, PGB served as a mentor, teacher, and friend to both me and my wife, Wendy (who ended up working for Peter and Judy Crystal in the GCDS Development Office). When our first son, Sam, was born, and he was struggling to survive at Yale-New Haven, Peter not only gave me the week off to be with my baby, but he said, "I don't want you to even THINK about medical bills; give everything to Pat Meyer." Sam ended up in the hospital for six weeks, and Peter welcomed him home when we arrived at the Fish House with little Sam.

Because of our potent connection to our beloved Boston sports teams, we actually played hooky from school in 1991 and went to the Red Sox opening game! We also attended a Pats-Jets game at the Meadowlands - and barely made it back to camps for the Christmas Sing!

Given that I have now been at Country Day for twenty-five years, I will always be grateful for Peter's guidance, thoughtfulness, and luminous presence.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Maura, his three wonderful children, and his many friends.

We thank God for the many blessings that came to our children and family through Peter. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family!

Neely and Rolf Towe

Dear Peter, May you rest in peace. You gave life your all, and we will never forget you for your fairness and kindness and sense of humor. May God bless your family, and we send them much sympathy for their tremendous loss.
Affectionately,
Rosalie and Willits, and Doris, Laine, Amy and Tracy Catlin

I am heartbroken by this incredible loss. Peter was an inspiration and mentor to me. I will always fondly remember him cheering on the sidelines a every game! His love of life, his passion for sports, great sense of humor and love and support for his family and friends are priceless. What an amazing man! My thoughts and prayers are with the Briggs family. He will be deeply missed.