PETER WALSH

1947 - 2025

WALSH--Peter Mallon, age 78, passed away on April 18, 2025 at his home in Water Mill, NY, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband to Suzanne and father to Conor, Alice and Dana, Peter was a poet, singer, songwriter, community pillar, voracious reader and writer, marathoner, Army veteran, and most famously a New York City treasure in his many roles at Coogan's, the legendary Washington Heights bar and restaurant. Born on March 8, 1947 in New York City and raised there, Peter attended Marist College before enlisting in the US Army and serving in Vietnam. On the GI Bill, Peter earned a Diploma in Anglo-Irish Studies at Trinity College in Dublin. Returning from Dublin, Peter opened Pudding's, on New York's Upper East Side. He then founded Coogan's Restaurant in Washington Heights with partners David Hunt and Tess McDade. Coogan's quickly became the community hub for the surrounding neighborhoods thanks in large part to Peter's unique ability to make all feel comfortable, valued, and enjoyed. When a spike in the rent threatened Coogan's survival, a grass-roots campaign aided by longtime birthday- party patron Lin-Manuel Miranda kept Coogan's thriving and shone a bright spotlight on the treasured institution. A longtime road-runner himself, Peter also became a champion of the New York City track and field community, leading him to found Coogan's Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks 5K run, which raised funds for youth athletic programs. In his retirement, Peter continued to write across many forms, and his account of the 1877 wreck of the cargo ship Circassian off Mecox Bay in Water Mill stands as one of the most comprehensive studies of the event. In his final days, he completed a series he titled Poems to Be Read, Songs to Be Sung. Peter is survived by Suzanne, his adoring and adored wife of 39 years, his beloved children Conor (Emma Weeks), Alice (Pierre Dempsey), Dana (Scott Holmes), his four grandchildren, his brother Vincent, and his sisters Nancy and Elaine. Peter is also survived by the countless friends and patrons whose lives he touched. Joy is strength, and his memory is a blessing to all who had the privilege to know him. A Celebration of Peter's life will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at The Armory Track + Field Center, 216 Ft. Washington Avenue, New York. Program begins at 2pm. If you would like to make a donation in Peter's honor to either of the organizations below, we know he would be most grateful. Armory Foundation Youth Program-Keeping Kids on Track Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.