Peter Minton Ward, 93, of Darien died peacefully on Sunday, June 3, 2018. A beloved husband, he is survived by his wife Audrey of 60 years.
Peter Ward, 93, died June 3. His funeral is scheduled for June 22.
He was born on Dec. 24, 1924 in New York City to Francis T. and Alice W. Ward.
He attended The Green Vale School, ’39, on Long Island, St. George’s School, ’43, Newport, RI, where he was a trustee and chair of the Board of Trustees, and then an active honorary trustee, the University of Pennsylvania, ‘47 in Philadelphia and its Law School ‘49, where he was an associate editor of the Law Review and, after coming to New York, president of the New York Alumni Society.
Of Counsel to Chadbourne & Parke, LLP, New York City, (recently merged with Norton Rose Fulbright) where he had been a partner for over 35 years.
During his professional career in New York, he served on various committees of the New York City and New York State Bar Associations and of the American Bar Association. He served also as a director and a vice president and member of the executive committee of the Legal Aid Society of New York and as a director of the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.
Activities in Darien included service on its Representative Town Meeting and the Vestry and as senior warden of St. Paul’s Church. He was also a trustee of the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium.
He served in the United States Naval Reserve, discharged as a lieutenant (junior grade) in 1946.
A lifelong sailor, he was a member of the New York Yacht Club for 61 years (since 1957), secretary of the Membership Committee for several years, then secretary of the club and trustee from 1987 to 1997; member of Library Committee 1997 to 2018; post captain of the North American Station of the Royal Scandinavian Yacht Club and Nylandska Jaktklubben, 1980 to 1990; acting post captain, 2005; member of Noroton Yacht Club, Quissett (Cape Cod) Yacht Club, Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Essex Yacht Club, Cruising Club of America (rear commodore, New York Station 2004-2006), Ocean Cruising Club, The Corinthians, The Links Club (New York), The Rockefeller Center Club, Wee Burn Country Club, Coral Beach Club (Bermuda), Quissett (Cape Cod) Volunteer Fire Department, Metropolitan Opera Guild (Patron).
He is survived by their children, Peter, Susan, Pamelia and her husband, Paul, (grandsons Morgan and Brendan White); Douglas and his wife, Cecilia (and granddaughters Alexandra and Caitlin). He is also survived by his brother, Larry, and was predeceased by his brothers, Philip and Thomas.
His funeral service will be at the St. Luke’s Church in Darien at 1 p.m., Friday, June 22, 2018.
Sailing attire is requested.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1864 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 or St. George’s School, 372 Purgatory Road, Middletown, RI 02842.