WEYBRIDGE — Peter Kellerman, 68, of Weybridge died at Porter Hospital the early morning hours of October 30th, surrounded in spirit by the many souls who deeply loved him. He had lived valiantly and fully for over two years with his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, which he never let define his life or who he was.

Pete was born in the Bronx and moved as a child with his family to Long Island. He was the only son in a family of four younger sisters and grew up surrounded by aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and many friends. Then, as a young man, Peter became involved with a small Franciscan religious group and moved with them from Long Island to the Bay Area in California. The group dissolved after seven years but he remained on the west coast for a longer time.

Although he loved living in California, he eventually returned east to New England and began a rural life in Vermont, where he had a farm in Addison. At one point in his farming career, he had 350 milking goats, among several other random animals.

However, the main focus of his life, as it had been in California, was in human services. He earned a degree in psychology while working full-time at Cabot and went on to work at CVOEO in Middlebury and eventually became the Executive Director of the John Graham Emergency Homeless Shelter in Vergennes, from which he retired in 2020.

Pete loved his life, his people and where he lived in Weybridge, surrounded by the natural world with all the variety of wildlife, from birds to bears. The owl’s call at night or the geese honking from their flight never ceased to delight him. It was a treat to wake up to a gaggle of turkeys crossing the yard. Daily discovery walks were an important part of life, changing as the natural world evolved with the seasons. He thought nothing of going out with a chainsaw and cutting down a large tree that was blocking part of the view, or cutting and stacking a cord or two of wood to see us through the winter.

He loved having a hospitable home and enjoying the company of friends and family, of making a perfect fire in the fireplace and a perfect martini. He appreciated good conversations, eating and cooking good food, and the simple joy of togetherness. Pete lived with music. He was a great Beatles fan, but his listening repertoire was vast and varied.

He and Martha spent many happy times on the coast of Maine, as well as taking several trips to Europe, where he especially loved visiting Switzerland and Martha’s family there. Even last spring, before his illness finally overtook him, he and Martha spent almost three weeks in France and Pete finally got to experience Paris.

In Middlebury Peter was an active member of Saint Stephen’s Church, where he was senior warden, a role that especially appealed to him, as he held a sustaining belief in the possibility of good outcomes, however defined. Above and beyond that, he was a deeply spiritual person, grounded in the faith which sustained him, especially in the last months of his life.

Pete will be deeply missed by his wife, Martha Hill; his parents Peter and Michelina Kellerman and his sisters Joan Savery, Patty Scholl, Lisa Kellerman and Katherine Kellerman, all of Long Island; his son-in-law Steffen Hillemann and wife Korinna in Burlington with grandchildren Malin and Jacob; brother and sister-in-law David and Tami Munford in Middlebury; as well as countless other dear friends and family members far and wide.

Peter was a caregiver by nature. He leaves us all with the legacy of his great ability to love and connect with people, his open and welcoming heart, his love of family and friends, his sense of humor and his service to his church and community.

There will be a memorial service at Saint Stephen’s Church in Middlebury on Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. Contributions to the John Graham Shelter in Vergennes or to CVOEO or HOPE in Middlebury would be appropriate. ◊