Cover photo for Peter G. Gibbon's Obituary
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1944 Peter 2025

Peter G. Gibbon

January 17, 1944 — June 18, 2025

Peter G. Gibbon, 81, of Florence, MA passed away at Cooley Dickenson Hospital after a brief but valiant battle with a virulent illness on June 18, 2025. He was born in Winthrop, MA on January 17, 1944, the most cherished only child of Albert and Laura Gibbon. He grew up in Saugus, MA, and graduated from Essex Agricultural High School in 1961. After high school he attended the University of Massachusetts and Salem State University while working full-time as a cook and night manager at Bickford’s Restaurant. He interrupted his education to serve his country by joining the U.S. Army and completing two tours in Vietnam. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Achievement in 1969. He earned a BA in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 1979.
From 1969-1998 he worked as an Insurance Premium Auditor for three companies, Royal Insurance, Nielsen, Inc, and Great American/Ohio Casualty. In 1998 he became an independent auditor for these companies and New England Insurance Services. As much as he appreciated and enjoyed his work as an auditor, in 2002 he answered the call of his heart, soul, and spirit to bring a long-time interest in meditation and yoga into fruition. He completed basic Yoga Teacher Training at the Kripalu Yoga Center in 2002 and earned professional level certification in 2005. He attended many retreats with the Insight Meditation Society and Vipassana Meditation Center. In 2008 he became the owner and lead instructor at Olney Yoga Loft in Olney, MD, where he taught a variety of yoga and meditation classes. Simultaneously, he operated Peaceful Path Yoga from his home in Silver Spring, MD.
Peter loved doing things with Pat, his wife and partner in life, and all the friends they gathered over the years in the several places they lived, Northampton, MA, Nahant, MA, Silver Spring, MD, St. Augustine, FL, and recently back to Northampton where it all started. In their younger years this included hiking, yoga, and cross-country skiing. As time went on they turned to walking, including many trips to the dog park with Eva; going on cruises in the Caribbean, Canada, and Europe; and undertaking other great travel adventures. A highlight was a 3-week trip to India following the footsteps of the Buddha. Peter was a great connoisseur of food, red wine, and restaurants. Wherever Peter and Pat traveled, their trips included stops for tea and croissants at whatever quaint spots could be found.
Peter is survived by his wife of twenty-six years, Patrica Foley. Both Peter and Pat claim the other to be the great love of their life. He is also survived by his beloved daughters, Jennifer Gibbon and her husband Fred Walsh; Heather (Gibbon) Violette and husband Mike; his grandchildren Sarah Twomey, Rhianna Sembach and her husband Patrick, Ryan Walsh, and Aiden Tipton; adopted sisters Eileen Reed and her husband James and their children and grandchildren, Andrea Foley of East Freetown, MA, and Rev. Teresa Foley of Warwick, Rhode Island.
A man of great integrity, compassion and generosity, Peter was loved by all he met. A more loyal and dedicated friend cannot be found. He will be sorely missed by the forever friends he made throughout all the chapters and places of his life, most recently those he gathered while living in St. Augustine, FL and those he met playing chess in Northampton and Florence, MA. He loved connecting with his friends on Facebook, championing the happenings of their lives over the years. His message to us would come from a favorite poem by Uvavnuk in the Enlightened Heart, a treasured book he would often read from at the end of a yoga class. Those who have heard it will never forget his beautiful, resonant, and unforgettable voice reading these words:
The great sea has set me in motion, set me adrift, moving me like a weed in a river.
The sky and the strong wind have moved the spirit inside me till I am carried away trembling with joy.

The family will receive friends at the Ahearn Funeral Home, 783 Bridge Rd., Northampton on Saturday July 12, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. with a Memorial Service at the Funeral Home at 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UNICEF USA or the ASPCA.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Peter G. Gibbon, please visit our flower store.

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