Issue 1, 2020
In Memorium: F. Peter Rose (1932 – 2020)
By David Godfrey, STC Executive Director
The world lost a true champion for sea turtles and all wildlife with the passing of F. Peter Rose—a member of Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Board of Directors for over 20 years, most recently serving as Board Chairman. Peter was a gentleman in every sense of the word. I had the great pleasure of knowing Peter for nearly 30 years. We met in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, at STC’s biological field station in 1994. I had just started with the organization and had traveled to Tortuguero to experience the place for the first time; Peter was there, traveling on his own, assisting with the turtle research as a participant in STC’s Eco-Volunteer Program. We hit it off immediately and began a friendship that led to his joining the Board and becoming a generous and stalwart supporter of STC.
Peter was a delight to be around—kind to everyone he encountered, enthusiastic about conservation, upbeat in every situation, and, as I would learn over three decades of friendship, a source of great positive encouragement. For myself, STC staff members and Board members, Peter was an inspiration and a mentor.
Peter had a deep appreciation for the natural world, and that inspired his near-constant drive to travel and explore the world. Peter was always preparing for or returning from some great adventure, on which he was never afraid to embark solo. In addition to his deep involvement and support for STC, Peter was greatly involved with the environmental sciences and marine conservation at his alma mater, the University of Vermont.
Peter Rose loved life; he loved people of all types; and he especially loved sea turtles and the natural world. Those who had the opportunity to spend time with Peter will always remember his infectious enthusiasm and generosity. If you were lucky enough to join him for a dinner on the town, as I and other Board members often had the pleasure of doing, you were treated to the most delicious food, wine, and conversation. Peter was fond of ending discussions with the phrase, “we shall persevere.” In his memory, STC will persevere—through one of the most challenging periods in our lifetimes—and we will do it with grace, good humor and the confidence of knowing we are doing our very best for sea turtles and for the world around us. We will miss you, Peter.