Peter Anthony Cerreta

Peter Cerreta, artist, dies at 92. Sculptor, painter, and former educator Peter Anthony Cerreta passed away Sunday, April 7, 2024, at his home in Palm Coast, Florida, surrounded by family and loved ones. Born April 22, 1931, in White Plains, NY, Peter joined the U.S. Navy in 1950, serving for just under four years. While in the service, he married Marie Gilberti on August 12, 1951. They moved to 18 Ridge Street in White Plainsand had two children, Steve & Annamarie, and soon after relocated to 288 Willis Avenue in Hawthorne, NY.

After his discharge from the Navy, Peter began his formal training at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where in 1958 he earned his bachelor’s degree in art education. He went on to earn his master’s degree in the same field from Hunter College in 1965, as well as an MS in counseling psychology from Manhattan College in 1971. He spent over 30 years as a teacher, counselor, and administrator throughout the city of White Plains. Also in 1971, he opened “Armchair Art & Framing Gallery,” a business which he owned and operated out of his basement in Hawthorne for 17 years.

In 1988, Peter and his wife Marie moved to Palm Coast, Florida. He got a job at Daytona College teaching art and began to submit his own work into local exhibits and art shows. Over the next 30+ years, he entered numerous paintings, sculptures, and photographs, as well as a large variety of print types, into galleries from Palm Coast and St. Augustine to DeLand and Ormond Beach. Some of these pieces went on to win awards, ranging from honorable mentions to Best in Show.

A notable figurehead within the Art League of Daytona, as well as the Flagler County arts community as a whole, Peter was well known for his bombastic personality, flamboyant style, and unwavering generosity. Peter leaves behind a legacy comprising not just a massive and compelling oeuvre, but also a lifetime of hard work and dedication to family.

Peter was preceded in death by his son, Steve, and his daughter, the apple of his eye, Annamarie. He is survived by his loving wife, Marie, who was his everything, and his former daughter-in-law, Kathy. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Art League of Daytona.