H. Peter Converse of Marion, 83, died September 6, 2005 at home after a brief illness. He was the husband of Sheila Powers Converse.
Born in Boston, he was the son of the late Parker and June (Butler) Converse. He grew up in Brookline and summered in Marion where he raced Yankee one design sloops, Herreshoff 12s, as well as larger cruising boats on Buzzards Bay.
Peter was a graduate of The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT and Yale University, where he was enrolled in Naval ROTC. After college, he was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy serving in the Pacific and Atlantic Theatres during World War II. He was Communications Officer for the Subchaser USS SC-524 during the invasion of Southern France and the Battle of Anzio. He received the American Theatre medal, the European Theatre medal with two stars, and the World War II Victory ribbon.
After the war, he returned to Marion to his first job as a reporter for the New Bedford Standard-Times. He later moved to Schenectady, NY where he worked for General Electric. He started his career writing instruction books and worked his way up to Director of Investor Relations.
While with GE he was transferred to New York City, and he relocated his family to Riverside, CT. Soon afterward he went to work for Sperry Rand where he rose to become Director of Corporate Information.
He was a founding member of the Investor Relations Association where he served as vice president and was in line to be president when he was hospitalized with a cerebral aneurysm. After his recovery, Peter returned to work at Sperry for a short time. He retired from Sperry Rand in 1972, although he continued to work privately in investor relations and as a trustee.
In 1986, he moved from Riverside, CT to take up full-time residence with Sheila in the family home in Marion, MA. Although living primarily in Marion, he sought refuge from the winter cold by spending time in Scottsdale, AZ and cruising aboard his favorite ship, the four-masted barque Sea Cloud.
Peter spent his life with a camera in his hand chronicling every event with still pictures and movies. With his interest in new technologies, he had one of the first Polaroid cameras and adapted to video as soon as it came out.
He was an avid sailor who enjoyed the sea and preferred to use a sextant for celestial navigation. He was a past Rear Commodore of the Riverside Yacht Club. He was on the Race Committee for the Yacht Club and also for Off Soundings. He was also a knowledgeable and ardent weather enthusiast who each year tracked the hurricanes of the Atlantic.
Locally, Peter was a member of the Beverly Yacht Club, the Kittansett Club, the Cleveland Ledge Investment Club, and St. Gabriel's Church. He was also a director emeritus of the Sippican Historical and Preservation Society where he continued the work of his mother, one of the founding members of the society. Taking over for his father, he assumed chairmanship of the Moorings Breakwater Trust in 1965 to preserve the quality of life and character of Converse Point, and he was a passionate supporter of the Sippican Land Trust. With his wife Sheila, he was a devoted supporter of music throughout the community.
Survivors include his wife, Sheila; his children, Susan Converse of Philadelphia, PA and Allen Converse of Marion; and Sheila's children, Deborah Perkins of Littleton, CO, Betsy McGowan of Norwalk, CT, Robert Owens of Shelburne, VT, J.C. Owens of Phoenix, AZ, Daniel Owens and Christina Tarr, both of Richmond, CA, Thomas Owens and Patrick Owens, both of Marion, MA and 19 grandchildren. He is also survived by his former wife, Mary (Allen) Converse of Sarasota, FL. He was preceded in death by his sister Patricia (Converse) McDonald and his brother Courtland, both of Marion.
His Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 17th.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Southcoast Homecare Hospice, 200 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719 or the Sippican Land Trust, 589 Mill St., Marion, MA 02738.