Peter Laurence Adley

Peter Laurence Adley passed away suddenly and peacefully in his home in Portland, ME the morning of Wednesday, February 15th, 2023. He was 83 years old.

Born on June 6th, 1939 in Phillips, ME to Mary Adley (née Viles) and Laurence Adley, Peter lived a full, varied, and vibrant life in Maine, Connecticut, Arizona, and Germany. He served 3 years in the Army in Arizona, sold magazines door-to-door, ran a radio repair shop in Connecticut, and spent 43 years working for IBM, before retiring in 2005.

While working for IBM he relocated to Germany, where he immersed himself in the language and culture–skiing in the Alps, participating in Volksmarching through the forests, and ultimately meeting the love of his life, Sabine. Peter and Sabine were married on November 21, 1975 and shared nearly 46 years together in Germany and Connecticut, before Sabine passed away October 26, 2021. They had two children, Dennis and Melanie, and one granddaughter, Lilliana. The family spent nearly 18 years in Oxford, CT, before Peter and Sabine spent their final 20 years together in Woodbury, CT.

Peter moved to Portland, ME in January of 2022. He lived each day to the fullest, inspiring others to do the same with his infectious optimism, forging a large community of friends, and spreading his happiness. He found a passion for entertaining, cooking, and baking, always sharing his food and recipes with others. In one short year, Peter made a huge impact, bringing together a diverse and incredible group of people. Through tales of his past, his ever patient ear to listen, and the wisdom that comes with having walked many paths, he enriched innumerable lives, filling the role of grandfather, father, and, most importantly, dear friend to so many. He was much loved and will be dearly missed.

Peter is survived by his son, Dennis Adley (Norwich, CT), daughter, Melanie Petcoff (Brooklyn, NY), son-in-law, Aaron Petcoff (Brooklyn, NY), granddaughter, Lilliana Dignoti (West Palm Beach, FL), sister, Alice Ryder (Parker, TX), brothers, Michael Adley (Lake Placid, FL) and Keith Adley (San Diego, CA), and nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please pay tribute to Peter by donating to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute: https://www.gmri.org/donate/