Peter John Ward

Peter John Ward, "The Voice of the Poconos," went to his rest on Sunday, June 8, 2025 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Formerly of Montclair, NJ, Marshalls Creek and Gilbert, PA, and, most recently, Asbury Grace Park in Stroudsburg, PA. Peter was born in the Bronx, NY, on September 16, 1939, to his late parents William Patrick and Elizabeth A. (nee Christian) Ward. Peter spent his childhood living in a small apartment in the University Heights neighborhood and, with his siblings Margaret Ann, Joseph, and Elizabeth, attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine School. After graduation, he served in the Army National Guard in Texas, then returned to New York and worked with his father as a lather on the Pan Am Building in Manhattan before taking a position with the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, where he was employed until 1984. He enjoyed a close relationship with his siblings and treasured their companionship, especially after moving out of the family's two-bedroom apartment. Peter was always proud to have had the opportunity to live in all five boroughs of New York City. In 1971, Peter married Denise Costarella, and they were soon joined by sons Brendan, Michael, and Jonathan. They lived a full life, moving to Montclair in 1982, where they enjoyed entertaining and traveling. Peter was an avid photographer and took many pictures of their adventures. In their spare time, Peter and Denise played tennis and Peter took up bicycling, exploring the New Jersey and Pennsylvania countrysides. Denise and Peter enjoyed taking their sons to visit their siblings' homes so that the boys could get to know their cousins. The family also spent many summers at Denise's parents' lake house in Towamensing Trails, PA, swimming, boating, and eating a lot of wonderful Italian food. Denise and Peter remained close after they parted ways, and Peter was always a welcome guest whenever Denise hosted family events. In 1995, Peter fulfilled a lifelong dream of getting his radio license and becoming an on-air disc jockey. For over twenty years, he was the Morning Man at WVPO in Stroudsburg and the Sunday morning host at WRNJ in Hackettstown, NJ, greeting everyone with his fabulous baritone voice, low-key humor, and wonderful stories. He was a walking encyclopedia of Big Band music, Jazz, and The Great American Songbook and had a vast collection of vinyl and CDs with which he entertained several generations of music-lovers and listeners. He shared his knowledge with his family – especially with his sons – made mixtapes for his loved ones, and volunteered at a number of retirement and personal care homes, playing the tunes everyone loved, telling jokes, and often dancing with the ladies. He was light on his feet and always willing to guide someone around the dance floor or to perform an impromptu Irish jig. Peter met his second wife, Dianna Russell, after joining an Irish Ceili dance group in Gilbert. They then became ballroom dance partners and spent many happy evenings waltzing the night away. Together for over twenty years, Peter and Dianna enjoyed playing racquetball, walking in the graveyard in the evenings, and going on adventures. They ate, danced, and laughed their way through numerous cities, states, and countries, and hosted many get-togethers for family and friends, whether at Peter's house on the creek or at Dianna's house next to the cemetery. Peter was a kind and generous step-father to Dianna's children, Jeremy and McKenna Sickels, and a friend to Dianna's mother, Janet. Always active and forever young, Peter loved to stay busy. He adored yard work, especially raking leaves and shoveling snow, and walked, hiked, and biked whenever he could. A great eater, he was thrilled with both his wives' cooking, but he could also whip up a fabulous puttanesca on his own or make his famous special meatloaf for the family. He was a fan of cheese dreams. He enjoyed vodka martinis with a twist of lemon, lying in his hammock, and researching obscure musicians and their careers. He liked eating out, going to jazz clubs, watching movies, and whistling. Peter marched in the Stroudsburg St. Patrick's Day Parade for many years, sometimes wearing his Kelly green jacket. He had a folder full of printed jokes at the ready whenever he performed, and was never happier than when he got a big laugh after a long shaggy dog story. Playing with his grandchildren became one of his priorities as he got older, and we have videos of him rolling down hills both with them and onto them. Peter was always available, always willing to listen, always calm, and always himself. Peter is survived by his wife, Dianna Russell, of Bethlehem, PA; his son Brendan (Megan) and their daughters Madeline, Bridget, and Charlotte, of Collegeville, PA; his son Michael (Alvin), of Reading, PA; his son Jonathan (Ludmila) and their children Michelle and Stephen, of Glen Rock, NJ; his first wife, Denise Ward, of Princeton, NJ; his brother Joseph (Christina), of The Villages, FL; his sister Elizabeth, of Yonkers, NY; and his many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Margaret Ann White, of Bradenton, FL. A visitation will take place on Saturday, June 14, from 11:00-12:00 PM with a service at noon, officiated by Rev. Jason Vanderburg at Kresge Funeral Home in Brodheadsville, PA. A reception will follow. Interment will take place privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Peter's name can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, donate.BrightFocus.org. Please wear a pair of fun socks to the funeral in honor of Peter's vast funky sock collection. www.kresgefuneralhome.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Peter, please visit our floral store.