Westhampton Native John Gilbert Peterkin Dies At 82

John Gilbert Peterkin

Westhampton native John Gilbert Peterkin of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, died on December 16. He was 82.

Born on March 27, 1928, to Margaret and DeWitt Peterkin, his family has a 300-year history on the East End. At the age of 10, he attended the Kent School in Connecticut where his brother had been enrolled. Upon graduating from Kent, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1946 and four months later was involved in a battle with North China. Five months after that battle, his division, the Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Division, was attacked at midnight by 600 People’s Republic soldiers. They killed five marines and wounded 15 others, including Mr. Peterkin who was the last American to be wounded in China. He received numerous medals including the Purple Heart and citations from the Nationalist Republic, but was disabled for the rest of his life.

Nevertheless, he graduated from Syracuse University Business School and worked for Proctor, Gamble and Owens-Illinois Glass Company and then went on to work for 25 years on Wall Street, specializing in managing institutional sales. He also was involved with Young Republic events and was a former vice president of the Investment Association.

Mr. Peterkin moved to Ponte Vedra Beach more than 50 years ago, where he has been an active member of Christ Episcopal Church of Ponte Vedra.

A part-time resident of New York, he founded Long Island’s Cedar Swamp Historical Society in 1976 which had a membership of 400 in the 1990s while he was living in “Glenhill,” a 1786 homestead. He attended 40 years of municipal meetings, was a New York conservation and environmental appointee for Long Island, a former police commissioner for Old Brookville’s five villages and was once asked by Democrats to run for state senate.

An avid golfer since 1934, he was once a 3 handicap and shot his age at 81, but never had a hole-in-one. He played several times with Byron Nelson, who became a close friend and the two exchanged letters for more 30 years. He was a member of the National Golf Links of America, Piping Rock Club of Cherry Valley, Ketchaboneck Club of Westhampton, and TPC Sawgrass of Ponte Vedra Beach. He played on more than 24 of Scotland’s courses. He was also a collector, with 18 of the best golf prints, dozens of hickory golf clubs more than 100 years old, including Tom Morris’s putter, an original 1723 golf rules book, 40 trophies and very early American glass bottles and golden retriever prints.

Mr. Peterkin loved to travel and learn from other cultures. He traveled to more than 34 countries and made three trips to China.

Survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and many cousins on Long Island, he was predeceased by two brothers, Dewitt Peterkin and Donald Scott Peterkin; and a sister, Jane Peterkin Gurney.

A wake was held on December 27 at Follett & Werner funeral home in Westhampton Beach, with a funeral service on December 28 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, also in Westhampton Beach. Interment followed at Westhampton Cemetery. Mr. Peterkin was also remembered in a memorial on January 4 at Christ Episcopal Church of Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida. Services were under the direction of Quinn-Shalz Funeral Home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Christ Episcopal Church, 400 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be left at Quinn-Shalz.com.