Amherst, Dr. Peter L. Pellett, age 90, died on May 10, 2018 in his home in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Peter was born in London, England. A child survivor of World War II, he later went on to join the British Armed Forces where he defused bombs. After his military service he went on to receive his education at Borough Polytechnic in London, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and later obtained his post doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. After several years of research in London, the American University in Beirut, Lebanon, and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Peter was invited to be a professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1971 and later became head of the Nutrition Department. Peter was granted emeritus status after his retirement from the University of Massachusetts in 2000 but remained active into his early 80s.

Peter was an active board member on the International Nutrition Foundation (INF). Throughout his career he consulted regularly with the World Health Organization (WHO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). During these consultancies, he frequently traveled to many different developing countries leading humanitarian missions that focused on resolving the child malnutrition crisis. This became the primary focus of his life’s work; combating infant and child malnutrition in developing countries and putting an end to world hunger.

Peter authored the second edition of Food Composition, Tables for use in the Middle East in 1970. He co-authored Nutritional Evaluation of Protein Foods: Report of a Working Group Sponsored by the International Union of Nutritional Science and the United Nations in 1983. Additionally, he has 67 other publications and 1438 citations.

In addition to his numerous academic achievements Peter was also an accomplished jazz pianist. He played the piano all his life, including an appearance on stage at his own 80th birthday party where he joined the band for one song.

Peter is survived by his wife, Amira Pellett, and three children; Charles Pellett, Rupert Pellett, and Zena Bauman. Grandchildren; Sally Manning, Joey Pellett, Tommy Pellett, Jake Pellett, Ashton Bauman, and Inara Bauman. Great grandchildren; Josephine Manning, Tetton Pellett, and Maxwell Manning.

A gathering to honor his life and achievements will be held on Sunday, June 3, 2018, 10 am – 1 pm in the Dickinson Ballroom of the Lord Jeffery Inn Amherst, MA, 01002. Former colleagues, students, coworkers, friends, and family are all welcome.

In lieu of any flowers or cards please consider donating to the Peter L. Pellett Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student whose focus of study is related to food security and international nutrition. Donation link: https://tinyurl.com/pellettscholarship. If you prefer to send a check: 1) Make your check payable to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 2) Note in the memo line of your check that you would like to designate your gift to the: ‘Peter L. Pellett Scholarship.’ 3) Mail your gift to Records and Gift Processing, Memorial Hall, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003. 4) Or donate via phone at: 866-450-8627.