Peter was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He would sometimes claim to be born in a barn. He died at age 73 of lung cancer surrounded by family in Waxhaw, North Carolina. His family lays him to rest in Southside Cemetery in Waxhaw this March 16, 2023.

A Graveside Service will be held at 3:45pm, on Thursday, March 16th 2023, at the Waxhaw City Cemetery - 111 Arbor Drive, Waxhaw, NC 28173. For those unable to attend the service will be live-streamed on the Holland Funeral Service & Crematory Facebook Page.

Peter sailed and helped his father and brothers build Blue Jay sailing dinghies at Hanson Boatyard on Point Judith Pond in Wakefield, Rhode Island. He graduated Holderness Academy in Holderness, New Hampshire and started studies at Columbia University in 1967. He skippered MIT dinghies on the sail racing team there. In the spring of 1968 students at Columbia protested the United States involvement in the Vietnam war and took over administration buildings. Peter helped deliver food to the protesters. He left Columbia, went to Woodstock in 1969, and then enlisted in the Marines.

He was stationed four years at Cherry Point, North Carolina. Peter met his wife, Rita E. Orama at that time in Atlantic Beach. They married in 1973. They moved to New Hampshire where Peter completed a Bachelor of Art in English at the University of New Hampshire. He taught at Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, carpentered, and grew 60 acres of wild low bush blueberries at Coppleberry Farm on the slopes of Copple Crown Mountain.

Their first son, Peter Douglas was born in 1976 in San Diego, California where Peter was training for deep sea diving for the Naval Reserves. Their second son, Michael Mathew was born in 1980 in Rochester, New Hampshire. With Peter's encouragement both sons excelled at hockey, in their studies, and farming blueberries. Son Peter D. moved to the Charlotte area and settled in Waxhaw, North Carolina with wife Kelly. They have a son and a daughter. Son Michael settled in Gloucester, Massachusetts where he and his wife Marie have two daughters.

Peter and Rita moved back to the Carolinas in 1999. Peter built log cabins and worked as a carpenter. Peter and Rita found 13 acres in a quiet, wooded hollow in Westminster, South Carolina where Peter worked as a machinist at Borg - Warner in Seneca, South Carolina.

Peter was smart, honest and full of good humor. Peter often sported a country leather hat, a grin and a twinkle in his eye. Peter will be greatly missed by his wife, his two brothers Sandy and Bob, his sister Betsy, Sons Pete and Mike and their families, and all the friends he helped upon his way through life. Peter and Rita nourished fifty years of marriage together, always together, full of love and laughter.

Holland Funeral Service is serving the McKenzie Family.