Donald Edward Peters

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Donald Edward Peters, 87, of Great Kills, a retired architect who treasured his family and had a passion for boats and sailing, died Saturday in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay.

Born in Great Kills, he also spent time at a second home in Normandy Beach, N.J.

Mr. Peters graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and earned his bachelor's degree in architecture from The Pratt Institute, also in Brooklyn.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 until 1956, stationed at Fort Belvoir, Va., where he taught blueprint reading to construction foremen at the Corps of Engineers' Engineer School. He attained the rank of sergeant.

Mr. Peters was a self-employed architect who had a partnership with two other architects in the 1960s. He did primarily commercial work for clients including Helmsley-Spear in Manhattan, and retired in 2008.

He had a passion for boats and combined his love for designing boats and woodworking into building his own small boats, including four rowboats that he kept at Normandy Beach. With his brothers, Allen and Charlie, he owned a 40-foot sloop, the "Kathleen," built in 1902, which they kept docked in Great Kills Harbor. He also loved music and was a talented pianist, playing jazz standards by ear.

Mr. Peters was a member of the Richmond County Yacht Club and had served as its commodore in 1968.

He and Muriel Alger met at the yacht club through their love of boats and sailing, and had been married for 61 years.

Also surviving are his son, Donald; his daughters, April Flory and Lisa Milheim, five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

Arrangements, including cremation, are being handled by the Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills.