Peter Johnson Cole

Peter was born on June 20, 1937 in Newark, NJ, to parents, William and Mary Louise (Brooks-Johnson) Cole. He graduated from Orange High School in 1955. He then served in the Army, stationed in Korea, post war. He continued his education, graduating from Montclair State College in 1963 and Saint John’s University with a Master of Arts degree in 1968. Peter had a career as a History, Social Studies and Geography Teacher, working in the Piscataway and South Orange-Maplewood school districts for over 30 years, where he also coached football and track. Peter loved to interact with other cultures and traveled throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. He mastered Swahili when he spent two years in Tanzania teaching college students through a program with Columbia University in the 1960’s. Furthering his travels, he spent a sabbatical year attending Oxford University in 1984-1985 where he also coached an American football team, the Oxford Bulldogs (now the Oxford Saints). He was a true anglophile from that point forward.

Peter loved to read, do crossword puzzles, garden and was an avid listener of jazz music. He enjoyed building model cars and watching various sports on TV. His favorite car was the Mustang and he owned at least a dozen over the years.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.

Peter is survived by his wife Ruth, and the light of his life, his children Peter (Agata) and Caroline, and grandson Henry, and several nieces and nephews.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, December 26, 2025, from 4:00PM to 6:00PM at Quinn Hopping Funeral Home,145 East Mount Pleasant Ave, Livingston, NJ, 07039. The Funeral will take place on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 9:45AM at the Livingston United Methodist Church, 290 W Hobart Gap Rd, Livingston, NJ, 07039, with a Committal to follow at Restland Memorial Park, 77 Deforest Ave, East Hanover, NJ, 07936.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Livingston United Methodist Church, 390 Hobart Gap Road, Livingston NJ 07039.