Peter H. Drolet

It is with much sadness that we inform you that the bright spirit of Peter Drolet left this earth on Sunday, October 2, 2022. His wife, Linda, held him while he crossed over to the other side. Peter was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on November 18, 1958, the youngest child of Harold and Ada (Anderson) Drolet. He is survived by his wife, Linda Taylor, his sister, Janice Young and stepsons Paul Lourenco and Christopher Hays. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard Drolet.

Peter attended Dartmouth schools and was a 1976 graduate of Dartmouth High School. As a young adult, he built boats and learned the art of fiberglass locally at Concordia, Edy and Duff, and O’day Boat. He later used those skills to transition to bathtub repair, adding acrylic to his repertoire during his twenty-five years working for Fiber Pro before he retired.

Peter grew up in the Bay View neighborhood of South Dartmouth next door to his grandmother, Rose Drolet. As a child, he spent time swimming, boating, playing “sand block (pick-up) baseball” and street hockey with the other kids of the small beach community. Pete’s father built a chalet in North Sutton, New Hampshire where the family spent time skiing and riding snowmobiles.

He met Richard Hassin senior year of high school when they were about sixteen. They remained best friends, sharing many happy times throughout the years. One of their favorite past-times was Vanning. The creative duo worked on countless projects together, including building and maintaining various custom vans. Other leisure activities Pete enjoyed were listening to music, going to concerts, bird watching, gardening with his wife at their Acushnet home and eating his wife’s cooking.

Pete met his wife, Linda, on October 18, 1996 when he and Rick were playing pool and listening to a live band at Joe T’s Pub in East Taunton. Pete and Linda fell in love and moved to Acushnet in 2003. They married in their back yard in 2007 and treasured their happy, loving marriage. Over the years, the couple spent most of their vacations Vanning, traveling the country, usually accompanied by Rick and his wife Dawn, enjoying the company of the large, loving, supportive Vanner family.

Pete’s first van event was “Journey to the Center of New England”, held on Labor Day weekend of 1982. He arrived late on Friday night and was van #1123 through the gate! What an introduction! In addition to scores of New England van events, Pete attended thirteen Van National events in various U. S. locations from 1987 through 2019. His 1967 custom Dodge A-100 Van won first place Nationals trophies in 1999 and 2000, in addition to trophies from several of the local New England truck-ins. In 1996, Pete and Rick were among the founding members of Dysfunctional Vanners. Their wives became active, enthusiastic members. At the 2013 Council of Councils, the club ran the “hospitality suite” where they fed hundreds of hungry Vanners who were stranded for five days during a travel-ban blizzard. Many of those Vanners still sing their praises for the outstanding efforts of the Dysfunctional Vanners club.

Thank you to the many, many precious Vanners, too numerous to mention here, who enriched their lives, laughed with them and will be forever cherished. Hugs to you all.

Pete was well loved and touched many lives. Those hearts will miss and remember him. If love could have saved him, he would have lived forever.

Friends and relatives are welcome to attend a "Celebration of Life" and "Remembrance" being held in his honor on Saturday, October 22, at the Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Boulevard, New Bedford, MA from 4:20 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.

Flowers are welcome or please consider making donations in his name to St. Jude’s @ www.stjude.org/donate