Peter Vincent Disch Sr.

Peter Vincent Disch, Sr. passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family. He was born January 10, 1949, to the late Ellis Vincent Disch and Jeanne Mary (Ford) Disch in New York City. He is survived by the love of his life, Kathleen (Burns) Disch of Norwich; they shared 52 years of marriage along with their three children and spouses and nine grandchildren: Courtney (Disch) Langford and Ransom (Caroline Lucille, William Andrew, and Kathleen Sarah) of New Canaan, CT; Ellis Vincent Disch, II, and Roshanak (Emma-Kate Nazaneen, Oliver Shahram, and Lily Baharak) of Niceville, FL; and Peter Vincent Disch, Jr. and Nicollette (Lucy Jeanne, Reilly Jane, and Peter Vincent Disch, III) of Hingham, MA. In addition, he is survived by his brother, Paul Disch and his wife Betty of Duxbury, MA and his sister, Jeanne Mary (Disch) Cancro and her husband Paul of Tarrytown, NY. Janet (Burns) and Robert Nelson of Mystic and Robert Landers of Glastonbury are his surviving brothers and sister-in-law. He was predeceased by his parents, his beloved mother-in-law Lucille Burns and father-in-law William B. Burns of Norwich, sister-in-law, Patricia Landers of Glastonbury and his nephew, William Landers of Glastonbury. Countless nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews knew him simply as “Uncle Pete” and he loved them all as his own.

Soon after his birth, the family moved to Jewett City, CT and then to Norwich, CT, residing on Carroll Avenue for many years. He graduated from St. Patrick Cathedral School and then Saint Thomas More in Oakdale, CT. After high school, he enrolled and graduated from St. Leo University in Florida where he played golf and studied business. This led him back to the Norwich area where he reunited with his “Katie” and began his long and storied business career in Eastern Connecticut, while being a loving husband and a near perfect father to his children.

He joined Pervel Industries in Plainfield, CT before becoming the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the country, operating Disch Chevrolet in Moosup from October 1980 until 2007. Evolving into Disch Motor Group, the business grew over the years and was known as the gold standard for customer treatment and experience in the industry. Countless customers became quick friends, and the employees at Disch were truly a family.

In addition to Disch Motor Group, Peter was proud to serve for several years on the Board at Backus Hospital and as Chairman of the Board where he volunteered thousands of hours on a mission close to his heart. The family heard from innumerable employees about the positive and enduring impact Peter had on them during his tenure.

In later years, Peter opened and operated Disch Car Sales of Franklin where the tradition of impeccable customer service continued.

A life-long lover of the ocean, Peter was happiest surrounded by his family and friends on “I Deal,” first at the Mystic River Marina and then at the Marina at American Wharf with frequent excursions spanning Long Island to Nantucket. Peter loved fixing and tinkering on boats, whether his own or those of his buddies up and down the dock. As a scratch golfer for most of his playing years, Peter was a member at Pautipaug Country Club and competed in events across the region. Always a gentleman on and off the golf course, everyone wanted him as their partner.

Peter’s greatest legacy was his unending and unwavering optimism. He fought heart disease for over 40 years with such courage and the conviction to live to see his children become adults and later to watch his grandchildren grow. If you knew Peter you knew about his will to live and what it took to do so, but outwardly there was no indication of this fight, and he refused to let it get in the way of living a full life including attending most of his grandchildren’s events right until the end.

Peter was a source of comfort and counsel to his entire family extending down through the generations and to countless others. Always lending an ear and always knowing what to say, Peter never failed to let you know, “It will all work out.” And he stood by you until it did. His family will tell you he was “their rock,” teaching all of us by leading by example all that was important to living a faith-filled, family- centered, and honorable life. He ended most every conversation with, “You know who loves you.” He lived life until the end doing it “his way” and for that we are forever grateful.

Calling hours will be held at Church and Allen, 136 Sachem Street, Norwich, CT on Thursday, January 9th from 4-8 pm. A funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick at 10 am on his birthday, Friday, January 10th. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The William W. Backus Hospital Office of Philanthropy and Development, 326 Washington Street, Norwich, CT, 06360.