The KidsPeace organization is saddened to report the passing of longtime President and Chief Executive Officer John Peter. Mr. Peter died Monday, October 23 at the age of 87 at his home in Florida.
Mr. Peter joined what was then Wiley House in 1974 with a background in divinity studies and social work and experience at a large research and clinical organization in Lancaster, PA. Over the next 25 years, he presided over a period of tremendous growth in the services and reach of the organization. Among his accomplishment was overseeing the transformation of Wiley House into KidsPeace – going from a single-campus facility serving about 75 children when he started into a multi-state continuum of care that topped 2,600 clients by the time of his retirement in 1999.
During his career and retirement Mr. Peter served in leadership roles in a variety of national professional organizations in the social work and mental healthcare fields. He also found time to engage in a wide range of hobbies – including beekeeping, gardening, bookbinding, and clock and tool collecting.
“There are very few individuals who have had more of an impact on our organization in its long history than John Peter,” said KidsPeace President and CEO Michael Slack. “John was a tremendous strategic leader whose vision built the Orchard Hills Campus and our other program expansions in the 1990s. Even more importantly, he set an inspirational example of caring for each and every child Wiley House and KidsPeace helped.
“Literally thousands of children and families are better off today because of his efforts and the philosophy he so simply articulated – that KidsPeace exists to give kids peace. On behalf of KidsPeace, I extend our thoughts and prayers to Mr. Peter’s family and friends, along with our hope that the power of his example may serve to give them some peace at this difficult time.”
Mr. Peter is survived by his wife of 53 years, Judith, and by his son and daughter, among other family members.
