Born 1947
Died May 20, 2024.
Berlin, Vermont
Details of services
Per David’s wishes, there will be no services. If you wish to celebrate David, he would love for you to send a donation to Montpelier’s Kellogg Hubbard Library, the Vermont Historical Society, in Barre, or the Outdoor Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, Maine. To send online condolences to his family and see photos of a joyful David, please visit awrfh.com.
David Stirling Peebles, 77, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully
and filled with love in the Palliative Care Suite at Central Vermont Hospital in
Berlin, Vermont, on May 20, 2024. This is not an Obituary, because he didn’t
want one; this is a (very) short story at the end of a long and rich life for which
he was exceedingly grateful.
David died in the arms of his soulmate, his everything, of 45 years,
Giovanna Morselli Peebles, after an intense week in the hospital where he
was enveloped in the strongest love and care by Stirling Peebles, Skye
Peebles, and Cameron Peebles. David’s death was impossibly fast: he died
twelve days after being diagnosed with an aggressive untreatable metastatic
cancer. He died with grace and bravery, fully present and wonderfully funny
until his end.
David’s passion to travel came to him late, when he and Giovanna
retired in 2014, but it quickly became his favorite hobby and occupation. In the
decade after retirement, David and Giovanna spent several months each year
in Italy, or Greece, or both, and elsewhere. Giovanna’s native Italy became his
adopted country. Part of his heart resided at our long-time family camp near
Rangeley, Maine, where he fly-fished like a pro, hunted with Giovanna, made
thousands of delicious meals on his small four-burner gas stove, made lovely
birchbark art, and painted brilliant wildlife art. David was the finest cook many
of us have ever known. He showed his love for family and friends by preparing
an infinite number of spectacular meals across the decades. In the full and
joyful year prior to his death, David spent wonderful weeks with Giovanna,
and sometimes other family, in Seville, Sicily, Venice (Italy), southern
California, Puerto Rico, and his beloved Montreal. No doubt he was sick much
of the past twelve months but his strong body and lion heart gave few signals
of it. David was the most alive person. He would remind everyone to embrace
every minute of the time you have left on earth because, he would often tell
us, “None of us are getting out of this alive.”
We want to thank the extraordinary staff at Central Vermont Hospital
who cared for David in his last week with the most remarkable compassion,
kindness, and love. Your care meant the world to all of us.
Read the story on VTDigger here: David Stirling Peebles.