Peter Ivy

AMHERST, Peter Cryer Ivy, 91, died on April 17, 2013, in Amherst. Peter was born to Robert and Norma Ivy in 1922 and raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from Friends Central School and Amherst College. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army’s Persian Gulf Command in Tehran, Iran, where he met his future wife, Valerie. After discharge from military service he worked as a civilian for the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and married Valerie before returning to Philadelphia.

After attending the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Drexel Institute of Technology, Peter made his career working at Burroughs Corp. Research Center, General Electric, Link Aviation, and Grumman Aerospace Corp. in Bethpage, NY. During his working years, Peter was active with the Philadelphia Junior Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters, and Little League baseball teams.

Peter and Valerie retired to Pelham in 1992, and later to Applewood in Amherst. Peter was a lifelong artist and continued painting until his death. His paintings have most recently been exhibited at the Burnett Gallery and at Applewood. Peter was also an avid golfer and served for 14 years as class secretary for the Amherst College Class of 1943, for which he won a Distinguished Service Award.

Peter is survived by Valerie, his wife of 66 years; children Valerie and Andrew Steinberg, Elizabeth Read, and Stephen and Robin Ivy; grandchildren Scott Steinberg, Jennifer and Colin O’Sullivan, Madlen Read, Peter Ivy, Samuel Read, and Lauren Ivy; great-grandson Devin O’Sullivan; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is planned for May 20 at 11 a.m. at the Grace Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Peter’s name to the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center (70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst, MA, 01002) and the Smile Train (PO Box 96231, Washington, DC, 20090). Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.