Peter Bates Stoddard

Peter Bates Stoddard went to the spirit in the sky after 73 full years of life, but if you asked him on any given day how old he felt he’d always say 19. He had the wisdom of someone who had loved many things, places, and people, but maintained the curiosity, joy, wit, and unrelenting optimism of a teenager.

Peter had the power to make any acquaintance feel like a friend he had known his whole life, but he highly valued his peace and solitude. He could often be found alone with his greatest love, music, the likes of which spanned decades and genres, with an appreciation for artists from Merle Haggard to Christina Aguilera. He loved reading and participated in an endless book exchange with his coworkers (and best friends) at Westinghouse. Among his recent favorite authors were Steig Larsson and Lee Child. His all time favorite show was Breaking Bad, but with his taste for variety he could often be heard quoting Two and a Half Men or the Big Bang Theory quite often followed by a raucous laughter at his own retelling.

With friends he enjoyed live music, his favorite of which was far and away Government Mule, he even attended a small venue show with his family at Prescott Park for his 73rd birthday during which he received a signed set list from frontman Warren Haynes himself. Among other “greats” he saw live are Carlos Santana and The Who.

Peter lives on in the hearts and minds of all who knew and loved him, especially his family including his brother Sheldon “Tom” Stoddard, the mother of his children Jan Stoddard, daughters Tina Stoddard, Ashley Stoddard, Miranda Stoddard, his granddaughter Nicole “Nikki Liz” Stoddard-Lyons, and his beloved cat Ginseng.