Peter C. Neuhaus

Peter Charles Neuhaus, age 86, of Queens, New York, passed away on Saturday, May 31, 2025, after a fierce battle with metastatic prostate cancer. He was born on January 12, 1939, in Paris, France, the son of Hungarian-born parents, Max and Catherine Neuhaus.

His father, Max, trained as a dentist and provided said services to the French Jewish community. In 1942, Max, since he was Jewish, strategically returned the family to Budapest, which included an older son, Nicholas Neuhaus, to avoid the roundups of Jews in Paris. Catherine, a Roman Catholic, was committed to protecting Max and ensured her husband's safety during the horrific events of World War II, with the support of Nicholas. Peter's French citizenship enabled the entire family to return to France in 1946. However, the family faced tremendous economic distress as Max was unable to practice dentistry legally. Therefore, in 1952, the family decided to move to New York City with the assistance of family already in the USA. Peter learned English in record time, just before he started junior high school. He completed his high school studies at Brooklyn Technical High School, where he discovered his lifelong love of geometry and all kinds of music, particularly doo-wop. He loved to sing with his friends, was a member of several singing groups, and learned to play the saxophone. He served in the US Army and was honorably discharged in the early '60s. He began his undergraduate studies at the City College of New York, where he completed his bachelor's degree in history in 1965.

Initially, Peter began his career at Fedders, where he oversaw the quality control of air conditioners. He decided to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Nicholas, by taking classes at Columbia University's School of Education and becoming an elementary school teacher with the New York City Department of Education (DOE) in the late 1960s. He later joined a DOE initiative, the Home Instruction Program, for students who could not physically attend formal classes due to medical, mental health, or physical conditions. His students and their parents treasured Peter due to his dedication and compassion, many of whom remained in contact. He also tutored at-risk children living in group homes, where his expert skills guided many to graduation. He retired from teaching in the 1990s.

Peter was the loving father of Mamun and Jeffrey by his late partner, Gladys Barnett, and Charlotte and Charles by his late wife, Carmen M. Neuhaus. He was also a dedicated grandfather of Maxine (Charles) and Olivia (Charles). He was committed to caring for his family. He visited his mother, Catherine, daily for years. He cared for his cherished wife, Carmen, as she battled a long illness. Peter helped raise his adored granddaughters from babyhood in tandem with his son, Charles, and his daughter-in-law, Joann.

He married his beloved wife, Miriam in 2014. Together, they blended their two families and lives, supporting each other through both the good times and the health challenges that came their way.

He is survived by his wife, Miriam, his children, Charlotte, Charles (Joann), and Mamun, his grandchildren, Maxine and Olivia, and his older brother and sister-in-law, Nicholas and Gilda, his nieces, Audrey, Eileen, and Michèle and their families, and his in-laws, the McFarlane, Absher and Redrick families. He leaves behind many friends and family members who will sadly miss him. Peter was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Catherine Neuhaus; his son, Jeffrey; his nephew, Gregory; his step-grandchild, Donte; and his wife, Carmen.

“Joy, sorrow, tears, lamentation, laughter -- to all these music gives voice, but in such a way that we are transported from the world of unrest to a world of peace, and see reality in a new way, as if we were sitting by a mountain lake and contemplating hills and woods and clouds in the tranquil and fathomless water.”

― Albert Schweitzer

A visitation for Peter will be held Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Forest Park Funeral Home, 114-03 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375. A funeral service will occur Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, 114-03 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375. A reception will occur Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, 114-03 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375.