Peter John Waldon

It is with sorrow and kind remembrance that we share the passing into eternal rest of Peter J. Waldon who left us suddenly on 20, September, 2024 after sharing a week of joy with his granddaughter near his home in Naples, Italy. Peter enjoyed a fulfilling life as a friend, mentor, Nonno, and father to so many. Born on July 1, 1947, Peter lived a life of service and generosity to everyone around him. 

Peter enlisted in the Navy in 1964 and saw combat in the Vietnam war on a riverboat. During his 18-year career as a military personnel man, he served multiple duty stations around the globe including the Defense Attache Office in Rome, New York, Saigon, Republic of Vietnam, and aboard the USS Orion, and USS Forrestal. He was commissioned in 1983 as Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) and retired in 1986. Peter received several military awards including Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal with 3 stars, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 stars, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendations with 1 star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. 

From 1986-2002, Peter dedicated his civilian career to helping individuals prepare for end of life through estate planning and life insurance at his family company, Waldon Financial Services, where he was the Vice President. In 2003 he began serving the Navy as a civilian in the role of Casualty Assistance Coordinator and Regional Trainer. In this role he devoted his life to ease the burden of the more than 5000 military families of deceased service members and training more than 10,000 others to continue his legacy of service to the families of the fallen. Peter loved exploring new countries and understanding new cultures, as he found immense joy in immersing himself in different traditions, tasting exotic cuisines, and learning about the histories that shaped each place he visited. He enjoyed traveling and visited over 100 countries in his lifetime. He loved sharing meals with friends, exploring Italian wines alongside his signature martini, watching classic movies, reading, golfing, and especially his daily Facetime with his daughters Alicia and Elana, and Sua Nipotina Marianna. 

He was a 12-year survivor of stage 4 cancer and was training to run a half marathon with his friends at NSA, Naples, at Capodichino. Pete was the most determined man that any of us knew. Whether he was working a casualty, zipping around Naples Italy in his BMW, or over tipping a waiter, Peter's determination and generosity drove every aspect of his life. His personal philosophy was “We may not be perfect, but our goal is to chase perfection. We may never get there but we will chase perfection relentlessly in order to make things easier for the next-of-kin of our beloved deceased Service members.” Peter is survived by his two daughters, Alicia Allan and Elana Waldon, and granddaughter Marianna Allan as he joins his wife Orene in heaven. 

Please join Peter’s family and friends in honoring and celebrating his life with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 9, 2024 in St. Paul's Catholic Church in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, followed by a committal service in H. Warren Smith Cemetery and a celebratory reception afterwards.

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