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Peter Kirk Demmerle
Peter Kirk Demmerle
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Peter Demmerle Obituary
died May 24, 2007 at the age of 53 from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Peter, the son of Barbara Ann Murtha and Theodore Eugene Demmerle, was born in Syracuse, New York, on September 6, 1953. He attended St. Aloysius Elementary School and New Canaan High School. A gifted wide receiver, Peter played for consecutive state championship teams and several of his records still stand including his 102 receptions during the 1970 season.
Following his grandfather and father, Peter attended and played football for the University of Notre Dame from 1971 to 1975. He was a starting wide receiver of Ara Parshegian's 1973 national championship team and, in his senior year, was named a Consensus All-American and Academic All-American. Although drafted by the San Diego Chargers and the New York Giants, Peter chose to enter Fordham University Law School in the fall of 1976.
Upon graduating, Peter joined the international law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene, & MacRae in 1979 as an associate attorney in its insurance department. Specializing in the areas of insurance and reinsurance, Peter also represented UK-based insurers and was instrumental in the reorganization of the Lloyd's market. Peter served as co-chairman of the firm's insurance department, managing partner of the London office, and was a member of the Steering Committee.
Peter was diagnosed with ALS in 1999. This neurodegenerative disease affects all voluntary muscles without compromising cognitive ability or sensation. He is survived by his wife, Kate, and their four daughters Cara, Alice, Tessa, and Nina, as well as his brother, Mark.
A funeral mass in Peter's honor will be celebrated at 10:30 am Wednesday, May 30 at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 476 North Street, Greenwich, Connecticut. The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peter's name to charities that support ALS research.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Scott Soffen
June 7, 2007
our father's worked together and were friends and I knew Pete as a boy. Over the years watching his successes I was so proud that I even had a small exposure to this brave man. I am so sorry for your loss but I thank you , the family, for your inspiration and strength. Bless you all.
Frank Allocco
June 5, 2007
As a teammate of Peter's at Notre Dame, I echo the sentiments of others in acknowledging his intelligence, his athletic ability, his friendship and his class, both on and off the field. Peter had a maturity well beyond his years, and was admired and respected by all of his teammates. He inspired all of us to want to become better players, but more importantly, to become better men. I will always remember his grace under pressure on the football field, but will treasure his final lessons, on how to live and love in the face of unbelievable adversity as his greatest gift. As he did in his lifetime, Peter continues to inspire and challenge all of us to appreciate our gifts and strive to become better husbands, fathers, sons, and friends. We were all blessed to have been touched by such a remarkable man. My most sincere sympathies to his supportive wife and loving children.
mabel coyle
June 3, 2007
For Kate, Cara, Alice, Tessa and especially Nina, with love and prayers, a little something from the Irish,
"May you see God's light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall----
You do not walk alone."
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Eldridge King
June 2, 2007
Pete:
You've gone on to a better place.
I will never forget playing Little League baseball and especially swimming with you on the Lake Club swim team as well as running around in the Club's woods, rowing boats, jumping off the big rock into the lake. You know, all the fun stuff that we were able to do.
Something that you may not know but, gulp, I always hated the Notre Dame football team. But I did root for the Irish when you were on the team!
I also can't stand the USC Trojans, that's because I am an Oregon Duck through and through. Please do not hold it against me!
God bless you and your family. We'll meet again someday.
Eldridge King
Eagle, Idaho
Chris Franco
May 30, 2007
Dear Demmerle Family,
My sincere condolence to you for your loss. Peter was a truely remarkable person. It was an honor to have know him. He will be remembered by many.
May he rest in peace.
Maude Watkins & Family--NCHS class 1971
May 30, 2007
Those we have loved and cherished, those who have changed our lives in some small or profound way are closer than we know, because it is their light that shines on our world. It is the brilliance of their souls that makes our night sky glow.
Peter you will be missed.
Brian Sikorski
May 30, 2007
We all have been very saddened by the tough hand Peter was dealt and what the family must have had to endure the past 8 years. Peter was a very special person, and they are a very special family.
Peter was a former classmate and teammate of mine and I was honored to sit with his family when Peter was inducted into the NCHS Hall of Fame. Peter in his eloquent way reflected back on a time that was very special to many of us. I remember closing my eyes listening to him put in words a feeling that was universal to our whole group that had tremendous on the field and off the field successes .He did not talk about himself but the experience. He represented all of his former classmates and teammates with his speech that evening.
I can remember playing in my first varsity HS football game as a young sophomore QB. I will never forget stepping into the huddle and turning to my left looking at #23. His smile, sandy brown hair and air of confidence is what I remember during that very moment. More importantly he walked across the huddle to me, grabbed my hand and squeezed it. He then smiles again and tells me 'this is what you have been waiting for". He went back to his place in the huddle and with that a sense of calmness came over me, Peter had that innate confident, leadership quality that was his trademark. He was a game changer on and off the field.
The likes of him will never pass this way again.
Claude Scales
May 29, 2007
It was a great pleasure to have known Peter, whose grace, humor and courage were always an inspiration. My heartfelt condolences to his family and to all who knew and loved him.
Darryll Dewan
May 29, 2007
Peter was a great Connecticut athlete and a super ND scholar/athlete. He will live on in our memory for his toughness fighting ALS and for being a great ND teammate. We all lost a good man. We send our condolences to Kate and his family. May Peter rest in peace.
John Audino
May 29, 2007
To the Demmerle Family:
Peter was a class act and a great person. As a former walk on to the football team, Peter treated me very well during my stay with the Notre Dame Football Team. He was always friendly and willing to help me as I struggled athletically to compete for a spot on the team. He always had a smile on his face and he treated me with respect. As a current college football coach, Peter is a prime example of a great student-athlete who made the right decisions and was a great success in his life as a family man and a lawyer. Please accept my sincere condolences and I am sure he will be missed by all his family and friends.
Larry Schiffer
May 29, 2007
Peter, we will all miss your great insights, unmatched skill, your professionalism, and your friendship. It was an honor to work with you and even more of an honor to work toward finding a cure for ALS. All of us affiliated with MDA's Wings Over Wall Street will miss you and all of us who worked with you at LeBeouf Lamb.
Kate, Cara, Alice, Tessa, and Nina, our deepest condolences from our family to yours.
Gary Grassey
May 29, 2007
As a teenager, I was inspired by #85. I still recall the joy that flowed like electricity through me while watching those legendary performances against SC and Alabama in 1973, and so many other great moments.
During the past few years, I've read with great interest about Pete, his post-graduate career, his battle against ALS and, above all, his proud family. Once again, he has provided great inspiration.
May you rest in peace, Pete, and may God continue to provide your family with His grace, comfort and blessings.
Gary Grassey
ND '82
Fordham Law '93
Dennis Brennan
May 28, 2007
To those of us who are from Connecticut, and attended Notre Dame in the early 70's, Peter was a hero. Unassuming, humble, while being great. And his heroism on the football field pales in comparison to his heroism over these last 8 years. God Bless Peter, and may his wife and children find comfort in knowing that their husband and Dad was the true definition of a great man.
Andy Duus
May 28, 2007
To the Demmerle family,
Peter's courage was inspiring. You remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Roger Valdiserri
May 28, 2007
Peter was one of my all-time favorite Notre Dame football players.. Not only was he a great athlete, but he embodied the term "student-athlete." Because he was such a bright young man I often utilized him as a spokesman with the media. I admired him then, I pray for him now.
Les Martin
May 28, 2007
Dear Peter, I hope that such little as I could do was not ill done. Be at peace. My love and sympathy to Kate, Cara, Alice, Tessa, and Nina.
Kathy Lamborn Blankenship
May 28, 2007
Peter was always to me the quintesential scholar/athlete when I knew him in high school. I admired him greatly and send my prayers to his family.
Bill Jensen
May 27, 2007
Our prayers are with your family.
Bill Jensen '75, '77
jim corgel
May 27, 2007
To the Demmerle family...
Pete was the ultimate role-model, in every way. Each Notre Dame man who met him wished he could be just like Pete. If you knew him you were lucky....so I grieve today with every other Notre Dame friend.
Jim Corgel '73 '75
paul mcgee, "73
May 27, 2007
I recallhis teammates, coaches, and tv commentators spoke about him withawe and respect for his talent, character, leadership, and accomplishment.
Henry Damigella
May 27, 2007
Rest in peace.
You were, are and always be the essence of the Notre Dame family: Character, Class and truly, Best of the Best.
Thank you for your life's enrichment to us.
Henry Damigella Family
Carol Macleod
May 27, 2007
Dear Kate,Cara, Alice, Tessa, and Nina,
We are saddened to hear your news and we are so sorry for your loss. We remember watching Pete play at Notre Dame and as Connecticut residents, shared the joy of our local player during those championship days. Our thoughts are with you and your family. May he be happy in heaven.
The Macleod Family
Carol, Tony (ND '69) and Colin
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