When I think of Peter, I remember all the wonderful places we have been together all over the
world. I start with his wedding to Deedee in Squam Lake, New Hampshire walking to the music
from ‘Hair’ echoing through the woods, then their paddling off in a canoe, then their place on
Georgica Pond on Long Island, then looking toward the surrounding mountains in Ridgeway,
Colorado where Deedee had “True Grit,”and hummingbirds fought outside the kitchen window
and the horses grazed in the fields, then years later still at “Double D” getting ready for Hilary’s,
my godchild’s, wedding where we walked through the fields to the spot some of us carried by
the carriage pulled by a matched team of black horses. Then in Zimbabwe for Karen’s wedding
near Victoria Falls with the monkeys grabbing our food and out excursions over the hippos
rising up near our canoes. All adventurous, exotic and romantic. Never saw Peter’s big ranch in
Nebraska but heard tales of the rattlers everywhere.
Peter was always at the head of the pack, game for it all and full of knowledge and stories.
We talked of his time in Laos, his teaching days, the flooding of the land in Colorado for the
dam. He had a great knowledge of history and the west and was full of stories to educate us
and teach us and always amuse us. He was athletic and good rider and could ski with the best
of them.
I am proud to be the godmother of Deedee and Peter’s daughter Hilary— an amazing mix of the
two of them. I love her dearly and call her Mem-sabie.
I never knew anyone who had more friends than Peter. He will be missed by many. in many
places and many walks of life. His books will be read by many of us where he shares his
knowledge with wit and understanding and shows his love of the land and the need to preserve
it. He was for equality and against the mistreatment of Native Americans. I wish he had been
here to see Biden’s choice of Deb Haaland for head of Interior, the first Native American to
serve as a cabinet secretary.
Cheers to you. dear Peter You had a good run, were brave to the end and I enjoyed being just
a little part of your big fruitful life.
I always learned something from your books. In “The Go Backers” I learned that only 3 out to 10
achieved their dreams. The track west and the life there was tough.
Peter was never a go-backer. He found peace and joy in the west he loved.
wendy wilder larsen