Peter Anthony Featherstone

Peter Anthony Featherstone, 68, formerly of Harbor View, Norwalk, Connecticut, now of Annapolis, Maryland, died on September 23, 2009, following complications from cardiovascular surgery in Washington, D.C.

Born in Tarrytown, New York, on February 13, 1941, to John Eustace and Francis Marie O'Meara Featherstone, Peter grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He graduated in 1963 from the U.S. Naval Academy. After active duty in the Navy, he earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

He then worked for 20 plus years in marketing and executive management roles for various corporations including Corning, American Can and Maclean-Hunter Media. In his mid fifties, inspired by volunteer stints at his son Reid's school, Peter shifted careers to become a classroom teacher. He taught fifth grade at Stratford Elementary School for 11 years, retiring in 2006.

Along with his family and many friends, Peter loved the water and boating. He enjoyed some championship seasons racing his Hobie Cat in Westport and then his Lido 14 at the Harbor View Yacht Club (HVYC), where he served as Commodore. He worked to promote boating through an active race schedule, children's sailing camps and expanded community participation in HVYC non-boating events. Peter also served on the board of the Norwalk Seaport Association and supported the Norwalk Oyster Festival.

Approaching retirement and a move to Annapolis, Peter fulfilled one of his biggest dreams when he purchased a Grand Banks Classic cruising trawler that he named ‘Tis. On ‘Tis, he and his wife Charlotte explored the nooks and crannies of the Bay, twice cruised back to New England and savored their involvement with the Chesapeake Bay Grand Banks Owners' Association, which Peter recently served as Treasurer.

Peter is survived by his wife of 27 years, Charlotte Elizabeth Randolph-Featherstone, their son Christopher deGraffenreid (Reid) of Alexandria, Virginia, and their children from Peter's first marriage to Bonnie Fingado Featherstone Johnson: Peter John (wife Debbi) of Yarmouth, Maine; Samuel Ethan (wife Carol Lynn) of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; and Abigail Whitney of New York City, New York. He is also survived by his grandchildren Eli, Olivia, Caroline and Harper Featherstone, all of Maine, and by his brother John Kevin (wife Judy) Featherstone of Henderson, Nevada.

Memorial celebrations are being held in the family home in Annapolis, in Harbor View and at the U.S. Naval Academy. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (www.cbf.org/), Long Island Soundkeeper (www.soundkeeper.org/) or Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org/).