Les Peer, 69, passed away at his home on Thursday, February 25, 2016. He was born May 7, 1946, in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Hyman and Chana Friedman Peer.
Les was a world-class athlete when in 1982 he suffered an accident while skiing Aspen Mountain that rendered him a respirator-dependent quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down. This life-altering change might have stunted most people’s lives but not Les'. His world just expanded with the magnitude of his personality. No one ever forgot meeting Les. He remained friends with so many from his eclectic past. His youthful adventures ranged from living on an Israeli kibbutz to serving as a bouncer at the London Playboy Club to studying for acceptance at the famed Royal Academy in England to being a commercial fisherman on an Icelandic boat. As a self-professed beatnik in NYC’s East Village, he stumbled into Vermont and skiing and his heart never left the beautiful Green Mountains. Les became a skiing instructor and eventually head of sales at the Elan Ski Company.
His physical world may have closed down at the time of his accident, but Les' ability to gather friends worldwide blossomed. From Steven Hawking to so many others, all so admired his great courage and incredible sense of humor. During the 15 years spent in Aspen after the accident, Les rekindled his relationship with his girlfriend from Sugarbush who became his wife in 1992. In 1997, they moved back to Vermont with their two sons.
Les' passion for cars, wine and fabulous food never wavered. His favorite pastimes included reading, serving as taste-tester for Vermont Sweet Tooth (his wife's baking business) and gabbing with all, particularly about his brother.
He is survived by his wife, Marion; sons, Shawn and Ken; daughter, Katrina; and his brother, Jeff.
Calling hours will be held Saturday, March 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Faith Funeral Home, 165 Brooklyn Street, Morrisville, VT. Online condolences may be made by visiting faithfh.net.
