RIP PegLeg 11/23/1949 - 12/01/2023

Lakediver

Adam's Personal Travel Agent, Apparently
Diver of the Year
First Name
Jennifer
As many of you know, PegLeg was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. Unfortunately, I have the sad job of telling y'all that he passed away this morning.

Peter was a longtime CHUMmer and one of our most active members since he joined CHUM 10 years ago. Peter was one in a million. He was a tough old coot, who famously lost his leg on a Comal trip, but refused to let that stop him from diving, a feat which earned him the 2018 Diver of the Year award. He continued diving and travelling for the rest of his life, spending time in Ecuador, Costa Rica, South Africa, Roatan, Egypt, and that's just off the top of my head. He had a sense of adventure that simply wouldn't quit.

But Peter was more than that. He was also a dear friend to many of us. To be honest, there are a lot of things I'd like to say, but I just don't have the words for them. Other than to say that Peter will be dearly missed by all of us. I will, however, share a few of my favorite pictures of Peter.

This one was taken at the Blue Lagoon in May 2019, right before our fateful trip to Egypt. I was trying out the camera I'd bought from him, and he wanted me to take a picture of him. It was a huge accomplishment for him, because it was the first time he'd been able to walk into the water with gear on, since he'd lost his leg.
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This one was taken at the 2018 Christmas party, when they announced that Peter had won Diver of the Year. It wasn't the first time I'd met him, but it was the first time we really talked and got to know each other. I'd like to think that's when we first became friends.
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This one isn't my picture (credit to @Sushi Boy), but it's a fantastic photo of him. It was taken on CHUM's July 2022 trip to Florida. During the very bouncy boat ride back from the Spiegel Grove, Peter went sliding and very nearly slid right off the back of the boat. Fortunately, some quick-acting CHUMmers (I can't remember who now, sorry) grabbed him and pulled him back onto the boat.
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And this one is a little bittersweet. It's the group photo I took at the airport, after we landed in Roatan for CHUM's November 2022 trip. As it turned, this was unfortunately, Peter's last CHUM trip. Which makes me sad, but I'm glad I got to do one more trip with him.
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Rest in peace, Peter. I wish you'd gotten to do all of the things you wanted to do, but I'm glad you got to do as much as you did. You will definitely be missed. There is a Peter-sized hole in CHUM now :(
 

DeepGeek

Administrator
Staff member
First Name
Chris
He was a trooper. He'll be missed.

I buddied with him on his first Flower Gardens trip after losing his leg. The crew on the Fling were professional as always but you could sense they were a little nervous on that first dive with the usual current and chop. I was too.

Well, he had a great dive and scampered up the ladder at the end in 4 ft swells better than many newbies. He had remarkably good upper body strength and didn't need a hand on the whole trip.

As you say - a tough old coot. I hope I get to visit some of the places he did.
 

Lakediver

Adam's Personal Travel Agent, Apparently
Diver of the Year
First Name
Jennifer
I forgot to add that his family is having him cremated, but they plan to hold a memorial service for him on his property in the spring. We don't have specific details yet, obviously, but we will post them when we do.
 

Sushi Boy

Shananigator
DAM CHUMmer
First Name
Roger
Peter taught us all what true strength is. He wasn’t a braggart. He was determined and focused. But he still always had a mischievous glint in his eye. I’m going to miss you tremendously, Peter, but my life is better because I knew you. Thank you for the time we got to spend together.
 

Heidi Ho

CHUM Fan
First Name
Holly
Peter was a rockstar, truly one of a kind. Charming, funny and smart and just a lovely person to spend time with.

I still haven't uploaded the pics from Roger's goodbye party but here's a great one of them both
 

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