Peter Letchworth Hoyt, of Blue Hill, Maine a former longtime resident of Darien and Little Deer Isle, Maine, passed away peacefully on March 5. He was 92.
Peter Hoyt, 92, passed away on March 5. A celebration of his life will take place May 17 in Maine.
Peter was born on Sept. 16, 1932, in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up with his parents, Stanis and Stephen Hoyt, in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
He graduated from Lehigh University in 1953, where he was an active member of the Sigma Phi fraternity. After graduation, Peter was commissioned by the Navy and served for two years aboard aircraft carriers. He later joined the Naval Reserve, became a commander, and served for 26 more years.
Peter moved to New York City in 1955, where he worked in banking while earning his MBA from New York University. It was in New York City that Peter met his future wife, Dilys, at a party. They married in 1959, and moved to Brooklyn Heights, where they had two daughters, Holly and Heather.
Soon after, they moved to Darien and lived there for 32 years. Peter continued to work in New York City at Time Inc. and RCA Corp. for 13 years until he started his own publishing consulting business, which he continued until age 88.
While living in Darien, Peter was a member of Wee Burn Country Club. For years he loved sailing his sunfish on the Long Island Sound, racing every Sunday in the beach club’s Sunday races, and the celebratory planters punches at sunset with Dilys and his competitors.
Peter was also an active member of the Darien Representative Town Meeting, Darien Music Boosters, and St. Luke’s Church. Peter always loved music and was a regular patron of the opera and symphony concerts in New York and on travels to Europe. He also loved beautiful paintings, photography, fine rugs, and collecting art on his travels all over the world.
Dilys and Peter began climbing mountains in the 1970’s and climbed all 113 mountains in the northeast over 4,000 feet. They also climbed mountains in Scotland, Wales, and Nepal. His most ambitious was on the Mt. Everest trail in Nepal, reaching a height of 15,500 feet. He and Dilys shared a passion for travel and visited over 50 countries together.
Peter first visited Little Deer Isle, ME, at age five with his father, who always wanted to build a house there. In 1998, Peter and Dilys moved to Little Deer Isle, quickly made many friends, and enjoyed entertaining year ‘round.
Together they explored the many hiking trails all over Little Deer and Deer Isle. Peter always loved being out on the water and taking friends and family out on his motorboat for summer picnics to many of the surrounding islands in Penobscot Bay.
Peter joined the board of directors and was chair at the Blue Hill Memorial Hospital Foundation, in which he was active for over a decade. Peter was also a dedicated member of the local men’s Friday Forum until it concluded.
His biggest joy was his family and all the dogs, and he most looked forward to having his grandchildren visit for Christmas and each summer. A cookout at home wouldn’t be complete without him roasting the perfect marshmallows!
Peter will be remembered as a devoted husband and a man dedicated to his family, supportive, kind, thoughtful, intelligent, and humble. He was predeceased by his parents, Stanis and Stephen Hoyt, and his wife, Dilys. He is survived by his children, Holly Posner (Bill) and Heather Gesualdi (Louis) and three grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Saunders Memorial Congregational Church, 46 Eggemoggin Road, Little Deer Isle, Maine. Lunch to follow at The Farmhouse Inn, 578 Pleasant St., Blue Hill, Maine.
— an obituary from Jordan Fernald Funeral Homes, where online condolences may be left