Peter Gowell ... retired as Eastern Propane CFO; at 67

ROCHESTER - Peter William Gowell, 67, of Rochester, died at his home on Saturday, February 5, 2022. He was born in Beverly, Mass., on March 26, 1954. Peter grew up in Danvers, Mass., and graduated from Danvers High School in 1972. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Business and Economics from Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y., and his Master's Degree at the University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business and Economics.

Peter retired as the Chief Financial Officer from Eastern Propane and Oil in Rochester in 2011, a career he truly loved. In business and life, he was always welcoming, no matter how important the project or task. Peter made people feel like there was nothing more important than their presence, his selflessness was immediately obvious. Peter could be deeply involved in the most critical business task but would always take the time to listen, his heart constantly in the right place.

He was active in the Rochester community, serving on the Boards of Trustees for Frisbie Memorial Hospital and the Rochester Youth Hockey Association.

Peter was a Jack-of-all-trades and master of many. One of his many passions was spending time in his expansive woodshop, designing and building furniture.

He took great pride in his home and landscaping, many of which he designed and built. In spring and summer, you would find Peter cycling many miles, from the White Mountains to the Seacoast with his countless friends, and in the winter, he would be out on the slopes skiing with family and friends. He was an avid sports enthusiast of all New England teams. He loved to challenge anyone to music trivia. Above all, Peter's greatest joy was spending time with his family, he was their biggest cheerleader, mentor, and life coach.

Peter lived many years with Parkinson's disease, and other health challenges, and confronted these with amazing grace and bravery. He lived every day with positivity and perseverance; determined not to let his health challenges interfere with his love for life and family.

Peter is survived by his best friend and love of his life, his wife of 44 years, Nancy (Buxton) Gowell, his children, Amy Gowell, William Gowell, his wife Julie, and Brittany Gowell, her partner, Matthew Cameron, his grandchildren, Nia, Jude, Emily, and Hannah, his sister, with whom he shared a lifetime of love and friendship, Katherine (Gowell) Latchaw, her husband Kenneth, nephews, Peter and David Latchaw, brothers-in-law Ralph, Brian, and Greg Buxton, many cousins, and man's best friend, Rosie.

Peter was predeceased by his mother Anne (VanNess Gowell) Colby, his father William Henry Gowell, and his dearest and closest friends, John DiNella, Jeff Taylor, Everett Paige, Donna Davis, Larry Schmidt, David Potter, and David Chick.

Peter was a good friend to anyone that knew him, and you didn't need to know him well for that to be apparent. He was kind and generous with his acceptance and undivided attention to all. To know Peter was to love him and people naturally gravitated towards him. It was easy to be a friend of Peter and he had an uncanny ability to make anyone, at any time, smile, laugh and simply be their best self; he quite literally brought out the best in people.

All those who knew Peter were touched by his kindness, humor, and generosity. He was truly an inspiration to all those he encountered. Peter's passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of his family and friends and his positive impact on those who were fortunate enough to know him will last forever.