Peter Gudaitis

Well, this has been a terrible week.

My brother-in-law Peter Gudaitis died suddenly and completely unexpectedly on Wednesday at home in Charlottesville, Virginia.

My sister Barbara and Peter's brother Chas are there now trying to make sense and order of it all.

Barbara has to return to New Orleans next week to pack up her apartment there and move back to Virginia - she's been working in New Orleans for three years.  I know it sounds like an odd arrangement, but Peter and Barbara were an unusual couple.  They talked every day, visited when they could and really appreciated each others quirks.  They each had 100% support from the other.

We're all just so sad and can't believe we'll never see Peter again.

He was brilliant, a music lover, could build anything electronic, made some beautiful furniture, earned his PhD in cell biology, was passionate about ideas, liberal with a capital "L", unfailingly curious, adored his cats, was shy, kind, a gifted photographer and also hilarious.  When he wanted to do or build anything he did meticulous research then dived right in.

He was really good at avoiding me and my camera and I was unhappy to think I might not have a good picture of him.  Finally I remembered taking some at Elizabeth and Chris's wedding in 2003 when even Peter didn't avoid the general photography mayhem going on.

Peter used to go on hiking trips in the Sonoran Desert with his father and brother Chas.  He and Chas continued the tradition after their father died and those trips meant so much to him.  The family will scatter his ashes in Arizona at a future date which sounds to me like just what he would have wanted.

Goodbye, Peter.  We'll all miss you so much.

Here's Peter's obituary notice in the  Daily Progress, Charlottesville.  If anyone wishes to make a donation Barbara has chosen The Committee for Missing Children (address in the obit.)  Thanks.