Born in Quincy, he was the son of the late Frank Leavitt and Hazel Duncan Leavitt, and older brother to Rick Leavitt (wife Ella) of Chatham. He was cherished father of Jacqueline Brady, her husband Stephen of Boston, Elizabeth Monaco, her husband Michael of Scituate, and Douglas Leavitt, his wife Monica of Bethlehem, PA. He was grandfather of eight beloved grandchildren, Robert McCaw (Sabin), Alyssa Falkowski (John), Paul J. McCaw (Michelle), Kimberly Conrad (Corey), Robin Monaco (Sebastian), Michael Monaco, and Jeremy and Phyllicia Leavitt; three step-grandchildren, Daniel, Trevor and Sarah Brady; great-grandchildren, Hamzah and Zainah Ahmed McCaw; and one step-great-grandchild, Brady Livas.
Peter grew up in Quincy and graduated from Quincy Schools. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard aboard a weather patrol ship, the "Castle Rock," based in Boston and stationed off the Atlantic during the Korean War, and later graduated from Union College with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts. He worked on the administrative staff at M.I.T., serving as Assistant/Associate Director of Admissions and the Joint Center for Urban Studies of M.I.T. and Harvard. In his second career, he taught English, History, and Latin at Thayer Academy (Braintree) for 20 years; and coached Thayer sailing and cross-country track.
Peter, a racing sailor, sailed the Snipe "Jackpot" to several Squantum Yacht Club Championships. Later, he built the 26’ Thunderbird "Siren" and sailed to two New England championships. He enjoyed running with the Hingham Striders, and ran a Newport and two Boston Marathons.
A civic leader and historian, in Scituate Peter was elected Town Moderator for 19 years and the School Committee for two terms and served as an appointed member of the Scituate Historic Commission and the Community Preservation Committee. He was a member of the Scituate Historical Society and the Friends of South Shore Fisheries. He did extensive research on Judge William Cushing of Scituate.
Peter was an avid non-fiction reader, listened to classical music, and cared for many dogs throughout his life. During their marriage, Peter and Barbara traveled extensively, including 19 trips to Europe and several to the Bahamas and Latin America. Every Friday for 30 years, they dined at the Mill Wharf Restaurant in Scituate Harbor.
Peter will always be remembered.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Scituate Historical Society. Words of comfort can be left at www.richardsongaffeyfuneralhome.com.
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