Peter Vitalie Terletzky

Apopka – Peter Vitalie “Pete” Terletzky, 94, of Apopka Florida, husband of Rosemary Terletzky, passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours as he slept, on Friday, October 24, 2025. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 28, 1931, Peter was the son of Vitalie Z. and Frances B. Terletzky. Peter grew up with his parents in historic parts of MA, Arlington and Lexington, and with his only sibling, younger sister Theodora Briggs “Tay” Terletzky. He was athletic and adventurous, and developed a passion for sailing. He later joined the United States Navy and served proudly during the Korean War. During his three years in the Navy, he served on the Iowa-Class Battleship the New Jersey, and later a fuel tanker that carried several kinds of fuels. Peter was very versatile in the Navy and was tasked with many assignments. For instance, while the Navy Seals were formed in the early 1960s, they evolved from what was known as Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT). Peter initially trained with them and later took part in training incoming candidates. He also served as a competition swimmer, participating in pre-Olympic competition swimming events throughout Europe, representing the Navy in these competitions.

While on a fuel-tanker and during routine maintenance of the inside of one of the jet-fuel tanks, Peter suffered third degree burns from an explosion of the fumes while inside the tank. He was treated and spent some of his recovery time at the Royal Naval Hospital in Gibraltar. From there he finished his service time at the Naval base in Panama, and was not assigned to another ship. While in Panama, Peter was coming to a crossroads in his life, and in a little roadside chapel, he called out in desperation to God “Oh God, if there is a right way for a man to live, please show me”. God sent Eddy Parker, who came through the chow line while Peter was on kitchen duty. Peter observed Eddy long enough to eventually ask him what he had in his life that seemed different, because Peter recognized he needed what he saw in Eddy. Eddy’s reply was simple and straight forward. He told Peter the only thing he could think that Peter was seeing, was Jesus Christ in his life. Eddy soon was presenting the gospel to him. Peter, by God’s sovereign grace, repented and expressed faith in Jesus’ atoning work on the cross as the Son of God and on Peter’s behalf, and acknowledged Jesus as his personal Savior and Lord. Eddy and Peter, now brothers in Christ, became friends and enjoyed bible studies together under a tree in the heat of Panama.

From the Navy, Peter attended Gorden College in MA. His life in Christ continued to grow. Peter was very curious and sought out learning. It was at Gordan he met and married his first wife, Alma R. Langley. They had three sons together, David, Stephen and Mark. Alma passed away in 2009, Mark passed in 2021 and Stephen passed in 2022.

After leaving Gordon, Peter went into business, where he eventually found himself as an executive for a mountain resort and vacation home development in Jackson NH. There Peter was able to both hone his skills in skiing and introduce his two oldest boys to the same. It was also the time that Peter’s passion for cars began to be passed on to his boys. Peter was very involved in the Gideons and had opportunities to speak and even preach. Even though Peter initially resisted the idea of more, God brought a pastor into his life who needed Peter’s help, which resulted in God using this relationship to call Peter as a Pastor. He became ordained and pastored a small church in Glen NH for three years, while still retaining his position in the development company. Peter then moved his family to Michigan to pastor another small church in Homer. From there, he left full-time ministry as he moved his family to Grand Rapids, MI, only to return to New England with his family, and his final pastorate position in New London, CT.

After divorcing his first wife, Peter left the ministry and eventually married Rosemary Thomas. He pursued his childhood passion of sailing and the two spent several years living on their boat sailing in the Bahamas. They eventually settled down on the Intracoastal Waterway in Lighthouse Point, FL, which gave them access to continue sailing for years.

Peter’s life in FL had him eventually being “Papa T” to six grandkids and one great-grandson from Rosemary’s children Valerie and Troy, and “Grandad” to his sons’ four children and six great-grandchildren. Peter did many things and had several jobs as he reached his later years, but he always saw himself as a pastor. There were both opportunities to preach and to marry couples throughout those years in FL. Peter brought people together and was an encourager. His passion to help and counsel people motivated him to become a life coach. He was seeing people in this capacity well into his 90s. Peter’s curiosity and desire to learn made him a lifelong self-taught student. This included his desire to know God and be a lifetime student of the Word of God. But Peter’s passion as a follower of Jesus spilled out onto others, and many experienced Peter introducing himself by his name, and as “a man who loves Jesus”. He wasn’t ashamed or apologetic, he just made sure that people he met knew he was a man who loved Jesus.

As the years passed, Rosemary and Peter gave up the boat and settled together in Apopka FL, where they purchased a condo. The passion for sailing gave way to exploring RC flying with others. After a slow decline in his health and abilities to get around, Rosemary served as Peter’s primary caretaker in his last five years, where his decline slowly led to him being confined to his bed on oxygen, and placed on Hospice. Rosemary was helped by many providers, who heard Peter’s direct gratefulness to them for their loving care. The doctors and the Chaplin, the nurses and the bathe aids, all felt the power of his love of the Lord because Peter would lay hands on them and pray over them and tell them what a wonderful job they did and how he appreciated their care. He helped them realize how much God loved and cared for them, which Rosemary witnessed over and over again. They were a team, blessing those that came to their home, no matter what the reason.

Rosemary’s sacrifice and diligence as a careful caretaker was in great part why Peter was able to pass into glory in their home together. As an expression of grace towards Rosemary, Peter asked God to be called home in his sleep, and God granted his prayer.

It was here in their home in Apopka that Peter passed away peacefully in his sleep, with Rosemary there by his side.

Peter’s favorite Bible verse was John 3:16

John 3:16–17 (ESV)

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

The family thanks Peter's fantastic medical teams: his GP and Cardiologist, their nurses, the VA and Hospice Teams. Along with his VA respite care giver, Viviana.

Peter is survived by his wife Rosemary Terletzky, sister Tay Terletzky, oldest son David Terletzky, step-daughter Valarie Gossett, and his ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Peter’s memorial service will be held Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 1:30 pm, beginning with Military Honors, at Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home,1148 E. Plant St., Winter Garden, FL. 34787(407-877-6700) (www.CareyHand.com/Obituaries).

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to two worthy ministries that have personal ties to Peter:

Kingship Church, a new church planted in 2020 in Hillsboro Oregon, by his oldest grandson Rick and son David (www.kingship.church/givegenerously ) orEagle Projects International (EPI), an international evangelistic and church planting ministry, founded by Phil Eyster, Peter’s son David’s best friend from college (www.EagleProjects.com )

Or another worthy ministry:

Samaritan’s Purse (www.SamaritansPurse.org )