Peter Sheldon Yozell of East Warren, Vermont, and Weston, Massachusetts, died peacefully at his home with family by his side on Sunday January 22, 2012, at the age of 89. The Mad River Valley was a very special place for Peter. He and his wife Jeanne first came to The Valley in the late 1960s and a few years later built their home in East Warren. Peter loved his pastoral view and the sunsets over the Green Mountains, the Fourth of July in Warren and the many incredible people who became their cherished lifelong friends.
Tennis was his passion. In the early years, he played at John Gardner’s clinics at the Sugarbush Inn and competed at the Bridges, the Sports Center and the Mad River clay courts. He had his Valley rituals -- Sunday mornings to The Warren Store for croissants and the newspapers and weekend dinners with friends at favorite local restaurants. In 1972, he and Carol Lippincott hatched the idea for The Warren Store’s contribution to the Fourth of July and his son Jimmy and friends began their now 40-year tradition of playing music on the porch after the parade. Peter loved the Fourth of July -- standing on the porch surveying the crowd, happy to enjoy this American tradition.
Peter was a fantastic father who was proud of his four children and engaged in their many interests -- horses, politics, music and human rights. He adored his five grandchildren and took great pleasure in introducing each one to the marvels of The Valley --the Farmers’ Market to buy his favorite fresh sweet corn and of course the Creemee stand. He was a loving husband to Jeanne and they shared a wonderful life together in The Valley filled with adventures and laughter. Together they enjoyed dinners with friends and family discussing news and politics of the day, finance, catching up on the local happenings, or just sharing humorous stories.
Peter graduated from Lawrence Academy and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His studies were interrupted by three years of service in the United States Navy as a lieutenant where he was decorated for his valor. He was founder and CEO of Yozell Associates, an employee benefits firm in Boston.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jeanne (Wolf); by his children, Emily Yozell and Enrique Pucci of Costa Rica, John and Abby Yozell of Dedham, MA, James Yozell and Nivia Freitas of Brazil, and Sally Yozell and David Anderson of Washington, D.C.; his grandchildren, Esme, Peter and Niko Yozell, Pablo and Giovanna Pucci; his nephew Stuart Lesses; and cousins Steve Yozell and Pat Conroy.
Peter will be remembered for his warm and mischievous smile, his tremendous sense of humor, his generosity and his love of life. He is at peace, but he will be missed.
His burial was on January 25, 2012, at the Linwood Cemetery in Weston, Massachusetts. In remembrance, donations may be made to the Mad River Valley Community Fund, P.O. Box 353, Waitsfield, VT 05673, (802) 496-3638, email: www.MRVCommunityFund.org.
