Peter W. Doyen

A longtime resident of New Fairfield, CT and Naples, FL, Pete was one of six children born to the late Linval and Daisy d’Oyen. He was raised in Queens, NY, and at just 15 years old enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, with a little help from his father, despite the objections of his mother.

One of the most remarkable stories of Pete’s service in the Pacific during World War II came while he was aboard the troop transport General Muir. His older brother Val was also serving in the Coast Guard, and the family had gone three years without hearing from him. Unbeknownst to Pete, Val—who had been wounded by shrapnel during a kamikaze attack at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines—was transferred aboard Pete’s ship with other wounded servicemen. The brothers discovered by chance that they were aboard the same ship and were reunited halfway around the world. A photographer captured their reunion, which was later featured in the New York Post under the headline “Two Brothers Meet Overseas.”

After the war, Pete returned to New York, where he met the love of his life, Margie, on a blind date in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. They shared more than 69 years of marriage and a life filled with family, dancing, snowmobiling, and countless adventures and road trips together.

Pete was a natural problem solver, a quality that served him throughout a career spanning some 40 years. He worked as an electrician at Kennedy Airport and later as a self-described “phone guy” for AT&T and Verizon. He also owned his own communications company, and his skills were rarely confined to the job. Pete was always willing to lend a hand, fix what was broken, or figure out how something worked—a habit he carried well into retirement.

Pete is preceded in death by his beloved Margie; his son, Peter Doyen, Jr.; his brothers, Val and Sid; and his sister, Laurel.

He will forever be remembered by his cherished daughters, Deborah “Debbie” Hagood (Bill) and Caroline “Cari” Weizenecker (Rob); his adoring grandchildren, Billy, Amanda, Chris, and Abby, who knew and loved him simply as “Poppy”; his devoted brothers, John (Maj-lis) and James “Jimmy” (Carol); and Pete Jr.’s family. He will also be deeply missed by his many beloved nieces and nephews, along with countless friends, neighbors, and extended family members who were blessed to know him.

Family was at the center of Pete’s life, and the bond between the Doyen brothers endured throughout their long lives. Just months before his passing, Pete, John, and Jimmy reunited with their families for a celebration affectionately dubbed “300 Years of Greatness,” honoring the brothers’ remarkable longevity, their service to their country, and, above all, the family ties they treasured throughout their lives.

To Pete, everyone was a “herbie,” and strangers were simply friends he hadn’t yet met. He touched the lives of many through his stories, his welcoming personality, and his generosity. A lifelong tinkerer, Pete was happiest when he had something to build, repair, or figure out, and even in his later years could often be found puttering around his basement workshop. He loved the Mets, dancing, a good hot meal accompanied by a Manhattan made to his exacting specifications, chocolate (but only when it was in his mouth), finding a “good deal,” and all dogs. He lived a remarkable 99 years with an abiding love for his family, his Lord, his country, and the people he met along the way. He was proud to be part of the Greatest Generation and, to those who knew and loved him, he was one of its great characters.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Juan Farfan, Melissa Nierer, and Braulia and Wilson Guzman for their friendship and care of Pete in recent years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am on Monday, September 21, 2026, at St. Edward the Confessor Church, 21 Brush Hill Rd., New Fairfield, CT. Burial with military honors will follow in Mt. View Cemetery, New Fairfield, CT.

Friends will be received from 2:00pm - 6:00pm on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT.

Contributions in Pete's memory may be made to the New Fairfield Sherman Animal Welfare, 223 CT RT 37, New Fairfield, CT 06812 or to Wreaths Across America, POB 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623.