Peter Gordon Bridge

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Peter Gordon Bridge of Burlington died in the Vermont Respite House on Aug. 24, 2010, shortly after his 80th birthday and his 50th wedding anniversary.

Peter was born on July 1, 1930, in Springfield, Mass., and lived with his parents, Helen Woodin and Chester Gordon Bridge, and brothers and sister in Enfield, Conn. He graduated from Enfield High School and Kents Hill School in Kents Hill, Maine. He had degrees from Colby College, Hartford Theological Seminary, St. Michael's College, and Boston University. He also spent four years in the Air Force, stationed mainly in Japan during the Korean War.

His life's work was varied (pastor, teacher, coach, chaplain, professor, mentor, dean of students and of academic affairs at Champlain College -- even ice cream man), but the common theme in all he did was helping people. Through his humor, empathy, and compassion, he had a way of making everyone he met feel special. Peter has inspired all of us to be more thoughtful, caring and selfless.

His community service in the Burlington area included volunteer activities with United Way of Chittenden County, the McClure Multigenerational Center, AARP, Planned Parenthood, the Vermont Association for the Blind, Burlington Community Land Trust, and St. Paul's Cathedral.

Always the entertainer, Peter was a member of several swing bands in high school and college, appeared in plays at Champlain College, sang barbershop with the Green Mountain Chorus, played the drums in two jazz bands -- Dr. Jazz and the Dixie Hot Shots and Onion River -- and often played his washboard with the bluegrass musicians in Richmond, and the western/bluegrass group in Englewood, Fla. He also greatly enjoyed directing the senior chorus at the McClure Senior Center.

Peter is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Ellen (Chase) Bridge; his daughter, Lisa Rizzio and her partner, Jim Cohen, of Shelburne; his son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Midori Bridge of Celina, Ohio; three grandchildren, Bianca Rizzio and Craddock and Alika Bridge; his brothers, Wallace of Kissimmee, Fla., and John and his wife, Charlene, of Manchester, Maine; sister-in-law Elaine Bridge of Manchester; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his brother, David, formerly of Manchester; and his sister, Betty Ann Monson, formerly of Augusta, Maine.

Peter wished to thank the many people who showered him with more than 150 cards and the musicians who helped him celebrate his 80th birthday; he also appreciated the many special friends who continually gave their support, especially Art III, Colin, Jack, Arthur, John P., Ann-Marie, Bill W., Emma, Talia, and former colleagues at Champlain College and in cardiac rehabilitation.

Peter was grateful for the wonderful care he received from the medical community and wanted to thank especially Drs. Luria, Battle, Ittleman, Winget, Brundage, Crookes, Ades, and Guerra, as well as the many staff members at Fletcher Allen and the Vermont Respite House who cared for him so competently and compassionately.

A service to celebrate Peter's life will be held at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Aug. 29, at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Burlington, at the corner of Battery and Cherry streets. Contributions in Peter's memory may be made to the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, the Vermont Foodbank, or any of the other organizations he supported.