My heartfelt thoughts from Madagascar to Peter’s family, friends, colleagues and all the people who were so fortunate to know and spend time with this very special person. I first met Peter and Mary in 1982 in Madagascar – and a strong bond was immediately created between us. Over the last 37 years, Madagascar always remained a very special place for Peter and his family.
With his strong linguistic ability, he quickly learned Malagasy that allowed him to communicate with people from all walks of lives that fit the life style of this gregarious and curious person. This last weekend I travelled 4 hours from Antananarivo (Tana) to Ansirabe – a voyage often made by Peter- as he worked in designing buildings (schools, hospitals and others) throughout the country to serve the Malagasy people. In the sprinter taxi, there was a group of young boys, Zaza Kanto, who were going to participate in a music festival in Ansirabe. They were boys who began singing together on the streets of Tana and were then supported to formalize their group to become accomplished national and international performers. Peter would have loved this story as it represented the values that he aspired in himself and those around him - to strive for the best and succeed.
Madagascar was also a special place that intricately linked our families together. This relationship deepened over the years as we shared many wonderful times and moments together – including parenting. As the saying goes in Africa, it takes a village to raise a child. Peter was always a strong, loving and giving member of our global family – as we grew and nurtured our families in Madagascar and explored together the landscapes and cultures in Tanzania. In 2000, Peter, Mary and Marija opened their loving home in Blacksburg, Virginia to welcome my daughter, Sarah for 6 months and then their daughter, Tiana Marie, after spending the first year of her life with my family in Madagascar.
Peter positively impacted the lives of so many people - not only in Madagascar - but across continents and countries. His presence in the lives of all the people he touched will be sorely missed – his sense of humor, his never ending love and caring for people, and his strong commitment to a sustainable environment that he manifested as architect. One of the most stunning buildings designed by Peter is the Valbio Research Center in Ranomafana that is perched looking over a rain forest with the roaring river below.
And so….. Peter will continue to live on in each of us. Over the weekend, I come across a favorite book of my mother’s , Many Winters by Nancy Wood that contains American Indian stories and poems. This is one that I am sure that Peter is now reading to each of us.
A long time I have lived with you
And now we are going
Separately to be together
Perhaps I shall be the wind
To blue your smooth waters
So that you do not see your face too much.
Perhaps I shall be the star
To guide your uncertain wings
So that you have direction in the night.
Perhaps I shall be the fire
To separate your thoughts
So that you do not give up.
Perhaps I shall be the rain
To open up the earth
So that your seed may fall.
Perhaps I shall be the snow
To let your blossoms sleep
So that you can bloom in the spring.
Perhaps I shall be the stream
To play a song on the rock
So that you are not alone.
Perhaps I shall be a new Mountain
So that you can always have a home.
And so Peter has sailed onto a new horizon, but his sprit remains with each of us.
Love and hugs to all.
Lisa Gaylord and family
Antananarivo, Madagascar