Peter A Peyser Dobbs Ferry, New York Obituary

Peter A Peyser

Peter A. Peyser, former Member of Congress from Westchester, Rockland and The Bronx and former Mayor of Irvington, died on October 9 at his home in Irvington. He was 93 years old. Mr. Peyser was first elected to Congress in 1970 as a Republican. He filled the vacancy left by Richard L. Ottinger D, who left his House seat to pursue a run for the Senate. In 1972, Peyser fought off Ottinger's comeback attempt in one of the most hard-fought House elections of its time in New York. When Ottinger returned to Congress in 1974 from a neighboring district, the two became close collaborators on behalf of Westchester. In 1976, Peyser attempted to unseat Sen. James L. Buckley C in a statewide GOP primary. His quixotic campaign ended in defeat. In 1977, Peyser announced he had become a Democrat. In 1978, he ran for his old congressional seat as a Democrat and won. He was re-elected in 1980. In 1982, redistricting eliminated his seat and forced him to run against popular Congressman Ben GilmanR in a district highly favorable to Gilman. Mr. Gilman won that race and Peyser departed the Congress on January 3, 1983. During his decades of public service, he always focused on trying to make government work for people. Quality education and good, family wage jobs were issues to which he applied his abundant energy. In addition to his service in Congress from 1971-1977 and 1979-1983 and as Irvington Mayor from 1962-1970, Mr. Peyser served as President of the Irvington PTA, on the Board of Trustees of his beloved Colgate University, on the Vestry of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Irvington and on the Board of Trustees of Children's Village. Mr. Peyser was born in Cedarhurst, Long Island on September 7, 1921. He graduated from the Dwight School in Manhattan and went on to Colgate University. He was in the class of 1943, but his class accelerated their studies so they could graduate in December of 1942 and enter the armed forces. He served in the Army infantry in World War II and saw action in major European theater battles such as the Battle of the Bulge, Hurtgen Forest, Remagen Bridge engagement and others. After returning home, he served in the National Guard as a Captain in the 7th Regiment. Mr. Peyser worked in the insurance industry after the war, eventually running his own agency of the Mutual of New York company. When his congressional career ended in 1983, he started a new career in the financial sector and at the end of his life was still working for the Gabelli Asset Management Company. He and the Peyser family have been most grateful to the company's founder Mario Gabelli for his support and friendship. Mr. Peyser is survived by his wife of 64 years, the former Marguerite Richards and his five children: Penny of Woodland Hills, CA; Safi Abheeti of Novato, CA; Peter of New York City; Jim of Milton, MA, and Tom of Richmond, VA. All of the Peyser children graduated from Irvington High School. He is also survived by five grandchildren. His passing leaves a void for all of his family that can never be filled. The public is invited to a viewing on Sunday, October 12 from 2pm to 5pm at the Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY and to the funeral service on Monday, October 13 at 3pm at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Irvington, NY. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family asks that donations be made in Mr. Peyser's name to the International Rescue Committee http://www.rescue.org or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research http://www.michaeljfox.org .
September 7, 1921 - October 9, 201409/07/192110/09/2014
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Peter A. Peyser, former Member of Congress from Westchester, Rockland and The Bronx and former Mayor of Irvington, died on October 9 at his home in Irvington. He was 93 years old. Mr. Peyser was first elected to Congress in 1970 as a Republican. He filled the vacancy left by Richard L. Ottinger D, who left his House seat to pursue a run for the Senate. In 1972, Peyser fought off Ottinger's comeback attempt in one of the most hard-fought House elections of its time in New York. When Ottinger returned to Congress in 1974 from a neighboring district, the two became close collaborators on behalf of Westchester. In 1976, Peyser attempted to unseat Sen. James L. Buckley C in a statewide GOP primary. His quixotic campaign ended in defeat. In 1977, Peyser announced he had become a Democrat. In 1978, he ran for his old congressional seat as a Democrat and won. He was re-elected in 1980. In 1982, redistricting eliminated his seat and forced him to run against popular Congressman Ben GilmanR in a district highly favorable to Gilman. Mr. Gilman won that race and Peyser departed the Congress on January 3, 1983. During his decades of public service, he always focused on trying to make government work for people. Quality education and good, family wage jobs were issues to which he applied his abundant energy. In addition to his service in Congress from 1971-1977 and 1979-1983 and as Irvington Mayor from 1962-1970, Mr. Peyser served as President of the Irvington PTA, on the Board of Trustees of his beloved Colgate University, on the Vestry of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Irvington and on the Board of Trustees of Children's Village. Mr. Peyser was born in Cedarhurst, Long Island on September 7, 1921. He graduated from the Dwight School in Manhattan and went on to Colgate University. He was in the class of 1943, but his class accelerated their studies so they could graduate in December of 1942 and enter the armed forces. He served in the Army infantry in World War II and saw action in major European theater battles such as the Battle of the Bulge, Hurtgen Forest, Remagen Bridge engagement and others. After returning home, he served in the National Guard as a Captain in the 7th Regiment. Mr. Peyser worked in the insurance industry after the war, eventually running his own agency of the Mutual of New York company. When his congressional career ended in 1983, he started a new career in the financial sector and at the end of his life was still working for the Gabelli Asset Management Company. He and the Peyser family have been most grateful to the company's founder Mario Gabelli for his support and friendship. Mr. Peyser is survived by his wife of 64 years, the former Marguerite Richards and his five children: Penny of Woodland Hills, CA; Safi Abheeti of Novato, CA; Peter of New York City; Jim of Milton, MA, and Tom of Richmond, VA. All of the Peyser children graduated from Irvington High School. He is also survived by five grandchildren. His passing leaves a void for all of his family that can never be filled. The public is invited to a viewing on Sunday, October 12 from 2pm to 5pm at the Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY and to the funeral service on Monday, October 13 at 3pm at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Irvington, NY. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family asks that donations be made in Mr. Peyser's name to the International Rescue Committee http://www.rescue.org or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research http://www.michaeljfox.org .

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