Peter J. Brobeil

Peter J. Brobeil, 77, passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, after a lengthy illness and a prolonged bout with pneumonia. Dr. Brobeil was raised in Bethany, Connecticut; when it was a rural dairy farming community of less than 900 people. After graduating college, he taught in the local public schools for a number of years. He later earned a Master’s Degree on a sabbatical leave from the Woodbridge, Connecticut Board of Education, studying at Michigan State University. After completing his degree, he returned to Woodbridge and was appointed District Science Coordinator. Several years later he returned to Michigan State as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, earning a Doctorate in Science Education. After a lengthy stay as a university professor, he left the academia to pursue his life’s love of fine art. Moving to the rugged and inspirational coast of Northern Maine; Dr. Brobeil immersed himself in his art, painting big game wildlife and local nautical vistas. Possessing skills in wilderness survival and white water canoeing, Brobeil undertook numerous solo expeditions into the far north wilderness to experience and gather subject material for his art. These adventures coupled with his earlier extensive work with the American Timber Wolf, brought him into contact and ultimate acceptance by numerous tribes of indigenous people. He was known by the Cree as the only ‘white man’ to have successfully soloed the mighty and dangerous Mattagami River, which flows north to James Bay. A few years later, Dr. Brobeil, was given the name “Dah-ha” by the native inhabitants of the high plateau barren lands of what is the Hopi Indian Nation. Identifying with his native brother’s philosophy regarding the ‘Living Cycle and its Creatures’. Dr. Brobeil was invited by the Hope Indians (Arizona) to come and live with them on their reservation at the Second Mesa. For several years he lived, worked and learned the ways of these noble and most ‘traditional’ people; before moving on to experience life in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Upon his departure his friend and acclaimed Hopi artist, Sandy George said to Dr. Brobeil, “We will miss you Dah-ha, but accept that it is your need now to continue upon your vision trail. ” Dr. Brobeil lived in Staunton prior to his passing and continued his art from his downtown “Coyote Wash” studio. He is survived by a brother, John; sister-in-law, Ruth, both of Oxford, Connecticut, and a niece, Christine of Milford, Connecticut. Following Dr. Brobeil’s wishes, no formal services will be conducted and he will be inurned along with his dog, Luther, at Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton. Arrangements under the direction of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes Staunton Chapel, Staunton, VA.