December 30, 2018 was a sad day for me, as I lost my uncle, my godfather, and a mentor all at once.
Peter’s generosity was legendary.I was the recipient of his largesse at a very early age.When I was six months old, he and Elise welcomed me into their home in Nairobi, Kenya for a few months.
Later in life, I had the good fortune to live next door to Peter for many years.The Gomes family and Pinto family were next-door neighbors in Scarborough.I learned a lot from Uncle Peter during those years.
A fond memory is the weekly routine when the Pinto and Gomes families went together for 7pm Saturday mass at St. Bartholomew Church.Then after mass, we would gather at one or the other’s family room, have a beer, and chat about politics, sports, international affairs, Goa, home improvement, fishing, whatever.Peter was very knowledgeable on so many topics, and I was more than happy to listen to him and learn about life.
Peter and Elise attended the St. Francis Xavier Seniors Club in Scarborough, where he was known for his generosity of spirit. There were some seniors who had to rely on others for rides to and from the Club, and Peter helped with this.The seniors looked forward to their weekly cards and bingo.For some, this was their only social interaction of the week, where they could get out of the house and meet their friends. My mother-in-law got a ride from Peter and Elise many times.
My heartfelt condolences to Aunty Elise, Sandy, Terry, Dave and the rest of your family.
Rest in Peace, Uncle Peter.
You will be missed by the many you have helped.