Our Beloved Joey

Joseph Peter '69

JOEY PETER 1947 – 2016

“I GOTTA TELL YOU, I’VE GIVEN THE CREW MONEY AND I’VE SUPPORTED THE PROGRAM, BUT FOR EVERY PENNY I SPENT, I GOT A HECK OF A LOT MORE BACK.”

Joey right where he belonged

Joey with his crew

Jay Rhodes '89 with of course Otto

BY JAY RHODES ’89

“Joe’s loyalty to SU and the Syracuse Chargers Club will never be surpassed. RIP, Joey. You will always have a special place in my heart for what you did for SU crew and for me personally. God bless.”

In between climbing into his first boat in the 60’s and saying farewell in 2016, Joe made lasting friendships, and, no surprise, rowing was a part of many of them.

“I lost my friend of 51 years,” said Ken Hutton. “With his generosity and unbounded enthusiasm, Joey cast a shadow bigger than one would think possible, given his diminutive stature. Joey stories abound. His Facebook page is flooded with photos and thoughts from crews he coxed from literally around the world. I have my own memories of double-dating in college to attending multiple Big East and ACC Basketball Tournaments thanks to the tickets Joey secured as a generous annual donor to SU.” been more loyal to his beloved Syracuse crews over the past four decades. Joey was always there, through tough years and great ones, for women, men, varsity eights and pairs alike. If you wore orange, Joey was there for you.” Being there. It is what Joe did, and athletes from the men’s and women’s programs remember him for it.

“I have a photo taken April 4, 2014 at Community Rowing in Boston,” said Lynne Pascale. “It is a typical Joey Peter moment. He’s at a race with some alums (left to right): Tiffany Macon, Syd Axson, Joey, myself, Coach Justin Moore, former SU women’s coach Mark Lyvers, Bonnie Nault and Maggie Peterson. Joey was always a supporter of the women’s team and regularly showed up for our races.”

Acknowledgements have poured in for Joe Peter ’69 who lost his fight with cancer November 4. Their recollections cannot possibly touch on all the aspects of Joe’s life as husband, father, grocer, financial advisor, coxswain and devoted alum. They do capture the spirit of the man who touched so many.

“Joey walked on his frosh year,” recalled his first coach, Bill Sanford. “He started as fourth boat coxswain. He stayed with it, always with a positive attitude that was infectious to his rowers. He got his break in his sophomore year and got a JV race. His persistence had paid off. He continued his love of the sport after college until he died.

The current men’s coach, Dave Reischman, paid Joe a visit two weeks before he passed: “I asked him about his fondest memory of Syracuse Rowing. In his usual humble way, he said he was just honored that his coaches and teammates let him be on the team. He talked about all the alumni races over the years, the trips to Henley and all of the ‘first class’ people he met. He said he enjoyed every minute of it.

“In an age of changing loyalties, Joey’s loyalty for SU and ‘my team,’ as he often referred to our program, never wavered. He was always about wearing the Orange. RIP, Joey. Thank you for everything you have done for many generations of SU rowers during the 47-plus years you have been associated with our program. You will be missed.”

If you were a friend of Joe’s, you knew it. And if you were a friend from Syracuse Rowing, well, the the fact he saw you through blue and orange glasses was unmistakable.

“I first met Joey almost 40 years ago when he came to congratulate us at the awards dock at the IRA,” said Joe Paduda. “No one was happier than Joey, and no one has

“Joey was an original and always himself. I think he also cherished the relationships he gained through rowing. As I’ve come in and out of engagement with SARA through the years, Joey was a constant presence, giving his unvarnished opinion on various issues and always attending all events. Joey also compiled an amazing record as an SU rowing benefactor, and he did this humbly.”

Speaking of Joe’s gifts, many alums recall getting opportunities they would not have had otherwise.

“I remember how critical SARA and Joey were in 1978 after our freshman IRA victory,” said Tom Darling. “The varsity had won as well and we didn’t know whether SU would send both teams to Henley. Thanks to the generosity of the SARA Board and SU Rowing alumni, with Joey being one of the dedicated alums who donated, our trip was made possible. Our entire

’78 team owes Joey a debt of gratitude for making that once-in-a-lifetime event a possibility. Thank you, Joey, for your generosity with your friends and to SU and your love for rowing and racing.”

Two of my personal memories of Joe bear a striking resemblance to Lynne and Tom’s recollections. The first time I truly realized how much Joe loved SU Crew was when we were racing Rutgers on the Raritan River. In the middle of the piece, after checking on the Rutgers crew to my port, I looked back down the course and noticed something out of the corner of my eye to starboard.

He went on to report on the current athletes: “The entire Syracuse Men’s Crew team went to Joe Peter’s wake to pay their respects. I normally don’t share private email exchanges, but Coach Reischman told me: ‘It was all their doing. The captains asked me if it was OK if a few of the guys showed up to the wake. Next thing I hear, the whole team is there. Good guys.’ THAT is the caliber of men who represent us.”

Standing on a piece of shoreline with no visible access, one hand grasping a tree to keep from falling in the river, one foot on terra firma and one arm waving furiously as he hooped and hollered, was ... Joe Peter.

Ten years after Tom Darling got to go to Henley thanks to Joe’s generosity, I did, too. While we were there, Coach Sanford told us to be at the boat tent at a non-racing time, suited up and ready to go. Wondering what was happening, we did as were told and learned that we were having our picture taken – on the water. A photographer stationed himself on the bridge, and all of the SU boats, big and small, spread out across the river.

Head of the Charles 2015

Who would commission a photographer and dream up such an audacious and beautiful photo? Joe Peter.

Joe’s impact has been felt by younger generations. Jason Premo’s first reaction was personal: “Syracuse Rowing lost its best friend.”

Our thoughts are with Joe’s wife, Jan, and his two children, John and Julie. Tom Darling remembers how Joe and Jan hosted parties at their house. “I remember Joey’s generosity with his friends, family and to SARA,” he said. “Every year before the SARA Annual meeting, Joey would send an email out to everyone on the SARA Board inviting them to his house to celebrate his birthday. We all looked forward to going over to wish Joey Happy Birthday after the meeting and enjoying the amazing amounts of food that Jan would have prepared for everyone. It was quintessential Joey and Jan, generous and welcoming in their home.”

Those who speak of him leave no doubt as to Joe’s legacy in Syracuse rowing and how we all can honor it.

“Let us all fill that hole and extend Joey’s shadow in spirit, practice and deed. If all of us extend Joey’s legacy and passion, I can’t help but believe that rowing at Syracuse would benefit immensely.”

It has been mentioned again and again how humble Joe was when he talked about his contributions to Syracuse Rowing. So it is fitting to recall something he said when he was inducted into the Syracuse Rowing Hall of Fame in September 2015.

The best coxswain on the Charles!

Coach Bill, Joey Pete and crew at Henley

Dedicated Masters Coxwain

“We have very little time on this earth to make our mark,” said Joe Paduda. “Joey made the most of his. All of us who have worn the orange, and those who will, stand on his shoulders.”

“I gotta tell you, I’ve given the crew money and I’ve supported the program, but for every penny I spent, I got a heck of a lot more back.”

“His legacy for all of us to emulate is how he unconditionally loved, supported, and followed SU Crew,” said Ken Hutton. “With Joey’s death, there is a hole in the SU Crew Armada. Whether you pulled an oar, steered a boat, or coached an athlete who did, we all were impacted in some fashion by Joey.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joe’s beloved SU Crew: Syracuse University Men’s Crew Head Coaches Fund, c/o Orange Club, 810 Nottingham Road, Syracuse, NY 13224 or online at www.cuse.com/ giving.

THE ORANGE OAR NOVEMBER 2016