Gus Peters, 62, of Strong Road, Southampton, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, died suddenly Sunday, March 1, 2015, at the Holyoke Medical Center.
Gus was born June 16, 1952, in Northampton, and was the son of the late Stanley Pietraskiewicz and Frances (Swiatek) Pietraskiewicz. He was educated at the former Sacred Heart of Jesus School and was a graduate of Williston Academy in 1970, continuing his education at Franklin and Marshall College, Greenfield Community College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst receiving his bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in business in 1978.
He worked for Trico Vendors, the former Hampshire Chrysler Plymouth dealership in Easthampton in the sales department before establishing his own used car dealership in 1978 known as Sunset Motors on Florence Road in Easthampton. On Oct. 30, 1981, Gus married Deborah Ann Dawson at the former Saint Mary’s Church in Northampton and they celebrated 33 years of marriage together.
Gus was an extremely talented athlete and percussionist, excelling in football, basketball and baseball from his youth to the present. As a percussionist he was a member of the Northampton Federation of Musicians and played for many years with the band, known as “Cory & the Knightsman”, he also loved his polish music, honoring his heritage. He was a communicant of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, now Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Easthampton. He was Mr. Baseball, and loved the game, he was the founder, player, coach of the Goldmine Orioles Tri-County Baseball League, a 19 year team member, player, coach of the ” Cardinals”, with the Quabbin Valley Over Thirty Baseball League and a nine year member of the “Knights” in the Pioneer Valley Over Thirty Baseball League, a 24 year team sponsor of “Sunset Motors” in the Pioneer Valley Touch Football League for whom he also played and his team had multiple league championships. He coached his son Michael in the Southampton Little League for a number of years. He loved horse racing, and his trips to the tracks whether it would be Saratoga or the Three County Fair in Northampton. Gus was truly a devoted family man and friend, his great sense of humor, wit, personality, and sportsmanship will be forever missed greatly.
Gus is survived by his wife Deborah Ann Peters; a daughter Melissa Bishop of South Hadley; a son Michael Peters and his companion Sarah Johnson of Southampton; a cherished granddaughter Ashleigh Bishop of South Hadley; a brother Ronald Pietraskiewicz of Wyoming; Joanne Guerrin of Dalton; Diane Pietraskiewicz of Newton; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Mark Guerrin on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015.