Peter Gerard Glubiak

1954 - 2024

GLUBIAK, Peter Gerard, of Ingleside, King and Queen County, VA, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 19, 2024. Pete was born in New York City on March 26, 1954, to Margaret Scally Glubiak and John Anthony Glubiak. The oldest of five children, he grew up in Whitestone, Queens.

A precocious student and a quick learner, Pete skipped several grades in school. He attended high school at Fordham Preparatory School, traveling to school each day by train and graduating at the age of 15. For college, his family was told that state schools in the South presented the best value, and he fell in love with the University of Virginia, the first stop on a tour of colleges with his dad. At UVA, Pete was a member of Sigma Phi Society and rowed on the men's crew team. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in history in 1974 and a master's in education in 1975.

During his time at UVA, Pete fell in love with Charlottesville and the outdoors. Pete stayed in the area after graduation, working as a social worker for TREES, a residential program for area youth. There, he met his wife-to-be, Anne Somerville Ryland. Anne also loved the outdoors, and together they backpacked the Rocky Mountains and hitchhiked to Alaska, where they climbed the Chilkoot trail. They were married at Farmington in St. Stephen's Church, Virginia, on August 7, 1982.

Pete eventually determined to become a lawyer, graduating from University of Louisville Law School in 1984. Following law school, Pete worked for the Legal Aid Society of Louisville and then the United Auto Workers' legal program. He later joined Morgan & Pottinger's Louisville office, before he oversaw the firm's Indiana office.

Pete moved with his family to King and Queen County, VA, in 1991, and he hung out his own shingle shortly afterwards. Glubiak Law Office became a staple of the community, a true country law practice. Pete took pride in the impact of his work - he never charged for adoptions, and over his decades in practice he helped place countless acres of local land under conservation easements. He channeled his love for the outdoors into environmental advocacy, developing an expertise in environmental law and conducting nationwide trainings for ASTM International. In addition to his law practice, Pete was a serial entrepreneur and developed many business ventures, including a rural trash company, a tire recycling venture, and numerous real estate projects.

A dedicated member of the community, Pete volunteered with many civic organizations. He served as the President of the Louisville Forum, the King and Queen Historical Society, and the King and Queen Farm Bureau. He also served as a Trustee at the Tappahannock Presbyterian Church and a member of many boards.

Pete was an avid reader and constant learner. He could often be found touring the local roads on his bicycle or going for walks through the woods with his dogs.

Pete found the most joy in his family. Pete was married to Anne, the love of his life, for over forty years, and he took enormous pride in raising his three children. He coached each of them in various sports, and even when he was not the coach, he was a regular on the sidelines at their sporting events. He rarely missed a graduation, awards ceremony, or other event, often driving hours on end to ensure he was there to support his family. One of his greatest delights was getting together with his siblings. Fittingly, he spent his last day celebrating his daughter's marriage with all of his loved ones.

Pete was predeceased by his parents and his brother, John Charles Glubiak. He is survived by his wife, Anne Ryland Glubiak, of King and Queen. He is also survived by three of his siblings and their spouses, Jane Glubiak Dumas (Bob), Albertson, NY; William David Glubiak (Jill), Chagrin Falls, OH; and Matthew Joseph Glubiak (Diana), Ridgefield, CT; along with his brothers-in-law and their spouses, Robert Temple Ryland III (Cheryl), Jacksonville, FL; John Motley Ryland (Donna), King George, VA; and his sisters-in-law and their spouses, Elizabeth Ryland Newton (Jeff), Locust Grove, VA; and Catharine Ryland Wolford (Jerry), Supply VA. In addition, he is survived by his children, Joshua Davis Glubiak (Meg), Zachary Ryland Glubiak (Allison), and Somerville Glubiak Ricker (Mark); his grandchildren, William Thomas Glubiak, Hadley Louise Glubiak, Charlotte Davis Glubiak, and Ryland Joan Glubiak; and a host of dear nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at Bruington Baptist Church, in King and Queen, VA, on Saturday, June 1, at 2 p.m., with a reception afterward. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The King and Queen Historical Society, Box 129, King and Queen Court House, VA 23085-0129.