In a maudlin mood...

So, I'm sitting at home with Jaime today since she isn't feeling well. It's been a strange time for me lately and I suppose having to stay home doesn't make it better because it allows my thoughts to run wild. It sounds trite to say, but I have good days and bad days. Anyway, my mother sent me a copy of the eulogy my Uncle Dick gave at the funeral, so I thought I would share it.



Peter Collins- Remembrances


Good Morning, My name is Dick Christman and I am Peter’s brother-in-law. I was recently informed that I am now the patriarch of the family…translation: “you’re old!” When I told a co-worker at the United Way (who is a Lutheran minister) that I had been asked to give a eulogy he told me it was a pastor’s worst nightmare. Half the speakers decide they have to tell everything that ever happened to the person from the moment of conception to their death. Now if the deceased is 98 years old that can take a while! The other half thinks “aha, I have a captive audience” and proceeds to give their 90 minute stand-up comedy routine! Well, I will try not to do either.

How do I start to describe Peter…”warm and fuzzy” are not two words I would use. Peter was a quiet, intelligent, very private person. But he was much more…he was a caring man as evidenced by the many tributes coming in from former Boy Scouts and Leaders he has worked with through the years.

I have many remembrances of Peter during the 40 plus years I have known him and I will share just a few with you today. You rarely saw Peter without a book in his hand. He was a voracious reader. One of our favorite activities when Mrs. B was alive was charades. We had great charade parties on Foster Ave. and Logan St. We all cringed however when it was Peter’s turn to come up with a book title. It was always the most obscure title ever…a title only Peter and the author ever knew existed.

Now Peter was known to enjoy a little “nip” now and then and he was quite a wine connoisseur. The Collin’s and Christman’s rented a house on Hilton Head shortly after Mrs. B’s death. We had a relaxing, quiet time with our families and decided to go out for one special dinner. Of course Peter ordered the wine…the bottle arrived and Peter sent it back…wrong vintage…the next bottle arrived; Peter sniffed the cork…and sent it back! After sending back the third bottle the frustrated waiter came to the table, set down a bottle wine and said “this one is on the house…”so enjoy it” and left. We enjoyed it!

I think if Peter had one regret in his life it was that he did not become a chef. Many of you know of his and Susan’s prowess in the kitchen. I will always cherish wonderful New Year’s Eve dinners on Logan St. with champagne and lobster. Peter and Susan really could have opened a restaurant…they are that good! The “Peter and Susan Cooking Show” on The Food Channel. Peter and Susan together in the kitchen…picture that! Gordon Ramsey, eat your heart out!

This is a celebration of Peter’s life. I believe that a person’s life is truly revealed in the family and friends who have touched his life. Instead of someone talking about my life, I would like to be at my own Memorial service so that I could thank all those people who made me what I became. Maybe I will make a video to show at my service. So, I am going to be presumptuous and tell you what I think Peter would like to say if he were here in person.

Thank you to all the friends who helped me cope the last few months…those of you who brought food, who mowed the lawn, who sat and talked to me and gave Susan and me support. You were there for me and for Susan and I am grateful to all of you. You know who you are. Thank you to my sister-in-law Mary Louise. With your genteel southern charm you cleaned, ran numerous errands and helped out wherever you could. And, when it came time to leave for North Carolina you painted the kitchen on your way out the door! Thank you Peter Baker for the very nice letter and for persevering until you got a chance to see me. I enjoyed our talks about Scouting and the great times we had together. And of course Welthea, who drove from Buffalo to spend time with Susan and me. She did just about anything Susan needed…including cleaning, running the dishwasher and doing laundry (this from someone who doesn’t even know how to turn on the washing machine at home)! She would fix snacks for me, sit and talk to me and basically just “be Welthea” She also helped run a darn good garage sale! And my brother David…how can I thank you enough? Flying over from England to help where he could… getting the big old house back in shape and helping liquidate the Van Auken business. I am so happy I had one last chance to visit David and Linda in England before I was diagnosed. Then there is Jaime who came and helped cheer me up as only a granddaughter can do. Every parent wants to see their children grow up happy and successful. I am fortunate that I did see this happen and I am so proud of Cameron and Alexandra. Alex, who came by every day…, who spent most of her lunch hours with me. She was there whenever I needed her. Cameron made the long trip from St. Louis many times and was such a comfort. He helped his mother with whatever she needed…especially getting ready for the big Van Auken sale! I will miss them and I wish I had told them I loved them more often…but they knew! Finally, there is my wife…what a rock! Working full time, driving to Ithaca, coming home and cleaning and cooking to the point of exhaustion. I was not the easiest patient…especially when she was almost single-handedly liquidating the business (much to my dismay). She would comfort me on my dark days…thank you Susan…you are my life partner…my confidant…and I love you!

Now I know this is a celebration of Peter’s life but it is also a celebration of all of you…you have touched his life in so many ways and will continue to keep his memory alive! In 1982 Susan and Peter gave me a book of quotations called Good Advice, compiled by William Safire. I use it often. I would leave you with a quote on Mortality by Thomas Jefferson. As you may know Jefferson was not the most religious person, but I think the quote is appropriate for this service.


“Let us not be uneasy then about the different roads we may pursue, as believing them the shortest, to our last abode, but following the guidance of a good conscience, let us be happy in the hope that by these different paths we shall all meet in the end.”

Thank you and God speed, Peter.