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PETER DELANO Obituary
son of Georgia and William Delano, (both deceased) died peacefully in his sleep at his home in New Orleans, LA on Sunday, May 21st. He was 64 years old. He had been experiencing multiple health issues since late October, 2016. Peter graduated from Bennington College in 1977, became a master carpenter, worked on projects ranging from Hollywood films to small independent shorts, as well as countless renovation and construction projects. His great joy was in traveling to visit his friends and family all over the map and also entertaining them at his home in "The Big Easy." He loved music, all the arts, and celebrations of any type or size. He will be missed profoundly by his brothers, Daniel and Andrew; his sister, Laura; his great- uncle John; three nieces, nephew, grandniece, cousins, in-laws, and all his friends. Memorial Tribute in NYC at a date to be determined.
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Memories and Condolences
for PETER DELANO
Sponsored by anonymous.
Dzovig Vertanesian
June 19, 2025
Laura Delano
September 3, 2023
Thinking of you, dearest Peter, on your birthday....I imagine your spirit is flying high, enjoying the incredible lightness of being that comes with the adventure of the great beyond. I love you forever.
Laura Delano
May 31, 2023
Peter, we love you forever and miss you. You live forever in our hearts. What were you thinking and doing in this photo? Boating in Central Park?
Laura Delano
May 29, 2021
Peter might also say, "Never mind the rain, enjoy some ice cream."
Laura Delano
May 29, 2021
On this rainy Memorial Day weekend here in NYC I am thinking of Peter, who left us four years ago, on May 21st 2017. He has been joined in the spirit world by his dear friend Sabra Van Dolsen, who lifted off from the earth on May 5th of this year. I like to think of them together, reunited and once again making merry and enjoying time together in realms beyond. It has been such a year of loss and upheaval for so many, so much grief without the usual forms of mourning being possible. Here is to hope and better days ahead here on earth. I think Peter would say, "Don't mind the rain, keep dancing, party on and cry when you want to and need to." I love you and miss you, brother Peter. This photo is one Peter's dear friend Victoria Chandler took...it is SO Peter, getting ready to take flight and party down at Mardi Gras.
Sarah Greenleaf Whittier
May 29, 2020
Miss you, Peter. You would have found this current situation rather odd. Do you have any advice for us mere mortals? We could use your humor, love, and wisdom right now. Give my love to God. Tell Him Im sure he has a Plan, and Im a team player. And send us a wink next time the wind shifts. Ill know its you.
Laura
May 29, 2020
Peter, we miss you.
Thinking of the days you lived at the 79th Street Boat Basin on an old tugboat. Love forever and ever.
On the roof at 114 E 10th
Laura Delano
May 30, 2019
Sarah, thank you for your beautiful message here. Peter is indeed in our hearts and I get the sense that his spirit is loving the freedom to be with those whom he loves in so many ways.
Sarah Whittier
May 29, 2019
Lilacs are blooming in Bennington just now--I was up that way last weekend.
Lush late May. Life so sweet. Still.
Peter, you live as ever in our hearts.
Amy Bergtold
November 20, 2018
I am very late to learning about Peter's passing. To his remaining family and friends, I'm very sorry for your loss. Peter and I were good friends in the late '80s and 90's mostly when I was a teenager and in my early 20's. Peter was very good friends with my father Paul Bergtold (now passed away) and even lived with us for certain periods of time while working on the house we lived in up in Germantown, NY. He always called on me in NYC when I lived there and he was passing through. I have great memories of his humor, spontaneity, charisma and just his ability to make life fun.
Gauderique De vivie
November 19, 2018
Hello to Peter's familly.
M'y name is Gaudérique and I am french. I 've spend a winter time is Aspen, I think It was in 1983/84. And this is where we meet Peter and I. His brother runed there an hotel "le Nado" and he gave me a tee shirt with the name on it, witch I still have in my wardrow...
In spring I came from Denver to New York by train and stayed few days in His parents house south of time square (?). Even if we never got in touch again after my retour to France,I keep in my hart many beautiful memories of our relation ship; ski, parties and talks....I am very sad to discover he is normalement hère ans more
I send you all, even if we don't know each other, my best regards .
(Please excuse my english which is geting poor by not using it).
Gauderique
Ryan Langsev
February 16, 2018
We missed Peter the past summers and recently learned of his passing. My family enjoyed the many visits by Peter to our Minnesota home including our last meeting in August 2015 during my daughter's sweet sixteenth birthday party. He was always welcome to our home as a good friend and a better party guest! Miss not hearing your late night telephone voice messages. Safe travels Peter. Ciao.
Marion Markham
January 31, 2018
Peter took the time to stay in touch with friends. I would get voice messages from him, sometimes in Italian, a few times a year. He would be here and I would be there but sometimes we could connect. He was big hearted and sweet. I miss those vm's, and am sad he's gone. Condolences to you, Laura and your family. He loved you all very much.
Sarah Whittier
January 31, 2018
What a happy thing on this cold January morning to see these lovely photos of dear Peter. Thank you for sharing them, Laura. I'll dig around in my old letters and post cards and see what I can find of Peter's to contribute.
On the way up!
Laura Delano
January 30, 2018
Apologies to those of you who did not find out about Peter's passing until much later and did not know about the October 21st, 2017 Memorial. We did our best to get the word out but are aware that there were some gaps. I am posting this photo I love of Peter, in his element, up on a chairlift, getting ready to tear down the slopes in his special style.
Jill Wisoff
January 30, 2018
I ran into Peter sporadically through the years. Despite our paths crossing in the Village where his family still lived a couple of avenues over, our last quality time was in NOLA almost a decade ago following Katrina when he introduced me to the Garden District and fried oysters at a place he liked, and then hung out at an event I was attending. We had a great time. I was reminded how Peter carried, in a quiet way, the spirit of a frontiersman and how the throwback, kick-your-feet-up quality of the Big Easy suited him. When he told me he still hung out in Vermont, where we had met as theater students at Bennington College, I seemed to recall a cabin in the woods off-campus where he'd bunker down all by himself to weather out snowstorms with a wood-burning stove. I was impressed by how he was drawn to building things. He was hanging around New Orleans, he said, because there was a lot of work to do on houses that had been damaged, though he felt it was time for him to move on. No definite plan. Just a wistfulness to not let the dust gather under his feet. My college women friends adored him especially, so many dated him! and one contacted me this week to ask after him. Was it true? Yes, I said. Peter has moved on. Condolences to his family, how lucky you are to have had him in your lives, all those precious and indescribable moments of Peter.
robert van stone
November 10, 2017
the 13 hour brunch at wildflowers in phila is still legendary around these parts peter was the host and catalyst of the event mostly by default a great friend so sad to hear the news stone
Laura Delano
November 9, 2017
Thank you all for these stories and memories of our dear Peter. The Memorial on October 21st in Brooklyn, NY, at the Brooklyn Friends Meeting House, was filled with so much love. If you would like to see a photo montage video tribute to Peter, created by Bob Celli. copy and paste the following link and then enter the password. https://vimeo.com/239335070
Password: PSD
Or contact me and I will email you the link.
Sandy Sorlien
November 8, 2017
I'm stunned to hear today that Peter has died. I am so sad to have missed seeing him this past year, as he tried to keep in touch with us every year despite the distance, and to have missed the memorial. No doubt it was filled with love and hilarious stories, as was Peter himself. I have many pictures and memories, including his arrival at our Rhode Island house party in the Great White Shark, a crazy big white American car of dubious solidity but large embrace of passengers. Peter my friend, they broke the mold after you. Wishing you and your family peace. Sandy
Anne Hemenway
September 27, 2017
Dear Laura, I will be there in spirit. I am out of town then, very sorry to say. I send my love and my appreciation of Peter, and many very fond, sweet, funny and very fun remembrances of him, to his memorial. Best, Anne
victor kempster
September 26, 2017
Dear Laura; Peter was larger than life, grand, and huge
in ways both dark and bright. It has been a year of shock
and loss, and here is another grand friend who, according to
the obit, was blessed with a quiet departure. I'm sure it wasn't as easy as expressed, but I hope so. My sorrow for the loss of a special man. My best to his family.
Peter takes flight
Laura Delano
September 26, 2017
Thank you all for your kind words and messages. Peter, we love you and miss you but you are in our hearts forever.
There will be a Memorial Celebration of Peter's Life on Saturday, October 21st at 11 AM
The Brooklyn Friends Meeting House
110 Schermerhorn St.
Brooklyn NY 11201
All welcome, bring your memories, your stories, your songs, your friends.
Reception in Community Room to follow.
(Photo by Victoria Chandler)
Micah Morrison
September 12, 2017
Love you and miss you, Peter. You were a dear, dear loyal friend for so long. So many great memories. See you on the other side. Wait for me. Love, Micah
Massimo Messina
June 26, 2017
We just found out about our good friend Peter. I have fond memories of him, a good friend of my sister Gabriella, a gracious and wonderful host, and a fun guest to have a round. Such a good guy. R.I.P. Peter
Sarah Gorham
June 12, 2017
I'll never forget EMERGENCY and your incredible guitar. It was amazing to grow up with you.
June 8, 2017
Will miss seeing you on your visits to Florida. Always enjoyed our lunches! Susan
Penelope Brown
June 8, 2017
Thanks for the memories, dear Peter.
Carry on and have yourself a lovely ride
Think of me when you finally reach the other side
George Porter
June 8, 2017
Peter I won't forget how you did look after me at the club,a true friend.
Beth Kaminstein
June 7, 2017
Loved spending time with you in the Keys and NOLA and I will always remember all that you fixed in my house!
Thom Rude
June 6, 2017
DC, Colorado, NYC, Vermont, Hollywood, NOLA, and Florida -- 50 years of life experiences with a dear, dear friend...
Anne Hemenway
June 6, 2017
Fare thee well, Dear Peter ! Holding you in our hearts as you travel on. love, Anne
Mavis (Bibi) Humes Baird
June 6, 2017
Rest In Peace dear friend. Thank you for always sharing your joie de vivre and glad open arms!
June 5, 2017
remembered here at Bennington.
Jennifer Westburg
June 4, 2017
Thanks for trying to teach me to drive,even though it terrified you.
Showing 1 - 35 of 35 results
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