We celebrated Peter’s life Sunday. The service was recorded and is available at https://gablesucc.org/live/. It actually begins 45 minutes in to the recording. The bulletin is also available at this link.
Peter Stanley Knezevich died at home, surrounded by his family, in Pinecrest, Florida on July 31, 2018, due to brain cancer. Peter was born June 15, 1956, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was a graduate of Palmetto Elementary School, Palmetto Middle School, and Palmetto Senior High School and spent the last fifteen years of his life living in the beautiful house on Lake Catherine that his parents purchased in the 1960s, less than a mile from the schools he attended as a child. He earned an undergraduate degree from The University of Pennsylvania, where he played football, a Juris Doctorate from Cooley Law School, and a Master of Laws from Cambridge University.
Peter loved this church with his heart and soul. He was a devoted member for over twenty years, serving for many years on the Board of Christian Education, teaching Sunday School, and the UCC’s comprehensive sex education program, Our Whole Lives. He participated regularly in Adult Education classes and was so eager to learn that he took several classes at Eden Theological Seminary and even considered pursuing a divinity degree. When Peter liked something he read, he recommended it to everyone he knew, and sometimes purchased multiple copies to give away. If he were here today, he would urge you to read some of his favorite progressive theologians, including Marcus Borg, Bishop Shelby Spong, John Dominick Crossan, and Richard Rohr. He felt strongly that the church should be inclusive and diverse and “walk the talk” of social justice. His legacy to the church is the statute of Jesus by the front door of the sanctuary, a visual representation of Matthew 25, the Bible verse that reminds us that when we serve the poor, we are serving Jesus.
Peter held a law degree and was a licensed attorney, but he preferred to envision, create, and chase opportunities as an entrepreneur. He helped to found several successful companies and introduced countless people who shared his energy and vision. He loved the freedom of working from home and the opportunity for many trips to Asia and South America. He particularly loved Hong Kong and Brazil.
Soon after his diagnosis in 2016, when was asked about his bucket list, he said he did not have one. He said that he just wanted to keep on doing the same simple things he had always enjoyed. He wanted to be at every one of Eli’s soccer games and take Macy out for breakfast and walk his dogs every day. He wanted to attend every University of Miami football game with his guys. He loved being outdoors. He loved sailing and staring at open water, including the beach at Crandon Park, Great Pond in Maine, the Florida Keys, and in particular, the beautiful lake behind our home, where he could sit for hours regardless of the heat or humidity. He was never happier than when he was with friends at our beach cabana or at a UM tailgate. He was a lover of street food, chicken wings, bourbon, and bacon and he made a remarkably good meatloaf. He learned just a few weeks ago — after sixty years in Florida — that he loved mangoes. He avidly followed world news and was particularly fond of National Public Radio and The Economist. He loved jazz, especially Miles Davis.
After being diagnosed with brain cancer, Peter was told he could expect to live 12-15 months. Stubborn to the end, he stuck around for 30 months, almost to the day. His family and friends already miss him immensely. He is survived by Christi Hayes, the wife he spontaneously married in Nairobi thirty years ago, and his children Macy and Eli, whom he loved unconditionally with every ounce of his being. His absence will be particularly felt by his mother, Kathryn Knezevich, his sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Brian Kaehler, and brother-in-law John Hayes, who lovingly cared for Peter during his long illness. The family is grateful for all the friends who were instrumental in keeping Peter with us so long, especially Michelle Kightley and David Salinas. Peter was worshipped by three black dogs, Shaggy, Bono, and Phoebe, who are completely bewildered by his absence.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Peter through the Peter Knezevich Fund of Coral Gables Congregational Church UCC. This fund will be used to honor Peter’s commitment to “walk the talk” in faith. Peter believe that the church should be inclusive, thoughtfully progressive, a witness to justice, and engaged in the community and wider world. This fund will provide opportunities for spiritual nurture, a wider welcome to all seeking a place of transformative faith, and to continue Peter’s practice of sharing with those in need. Checks can be made to Coral Gables UCC or you can give online at http://gablesucc.org/pkf.
