Peter F. Brucato Sr., resident of his beloved Whitefish, passed away on April 22, 2014, at the age of 92.
Peter was one of seven sons born to Agnes and Thomas Brucato of Andover, Mass. He developed a lifelong passion for skiing during winters in Andover and fell in love with sailing during his summers. He progressed first as a boat boy, and gradually worked his way to the position of captain. He captained Frank Roosevelt Jr.'s yacht one summer at Campobello, New Brunswick.
His six brothers all served their country. Peter served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II (Atlantic 1942 and Pacific Theater 1943-1944), serving mostly on LST 204. He was involved in four major campaigns and nine invasions in the Pacific. He was very proud of his family's contribution to their country.
After serving, he wintered in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he met his wife Martha. They married in 1947 and began raising their three boys, first in California and then Utah and Colorado before settling in Milwaukee, Wis., where Peter worked as a manager for U.S. Steel. In 1991, Peter moved out to Whitefish.
Peter was an avid athlete with a lifelong passion for skiing and sailing. After the war he attended St. Lawrence University and was a member of the ski team until his graduation in 1952. He was a 1948 alternate for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team and competed in the 1956 Olympic Sailing Trials, just missing obtaining a spot on the team. He completed the 54K (31 mile) American Birkebeiner (the Birkie) cross-country ski race yearly, for 25 consecutive years and ran over 24 marathons.
Peter was widely known as the "Mayor of Big Mountain" (Big Mountain Ski Resort). He loved to welcome new and old comers to the mountain each season. He could be seen carving turns with his many friends or relaxing at the summit house between runs. His condo was always open for wine and cheese for friends apres-ski.
Peter was extremely dedicated to the Special Olympics, which he participated in both in their foundation and at ground level for the past 19 years. He always had a smile and word of encouragement for every athlete and loved leading the kickoff parade.
He was predeceased by his loving wife of 43 years, Martha Beldon Sawyer Brucato; and his brothers, John, Edward, Paul, George and Thomas.
He is survived by his brother, David; his sons, William and Madge, Peter and Patricia, and Frederic and Martha; his grandchildren, Martha, Allen, Eileen, Lauren and Peter; and several nieces and nephews.
His memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at Christ Church Episcopal in Kalispell.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Montana Special Olympics Winter Games (www.somt.org/donate).
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Peter was one of seven sons born to Agnes and Thomas Brucato of Andover, Mass. He developed a lifelong passion for skiing during winters in Andover and fell in love with sailing during his summers. He progressed first as a boat boy, and gradually worked his way to the position of captain. He captained Frank Roosevelt Jr.'s yacht one summer at Campobello, New Brunswick.
His six brothers all served their country. Peter served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II (Atlantic 1942 and Pacific Theater 1943-1944), serving mostly on LST 204. He was involved in four major campaigns and nine invasions in the Pacific. He was very proud of his family's contribution to their country.
After serving, he wintered in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he met his wife Martha. They married in 1947 and began raising their three boys, first in California and then Utah and Colorado before settling in Milwaukee, Wis., where Peter worked as a manager for U.S. Steel. In 1991, Peter moved out to Whitefish.
Peter was an avid athlete with a lifelong passion for skiing and sailing. After the war he attended St. Lawrence University and was a member of the ski team until his graduation in 1952. He was a 1948 alternate for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team and competed in the 1956 Olympic Sailing Trials, just missing obtaining a spot on the team. He completed the 54K (31 mile) American Birkebeiner (the Birkie) cross-country ski race yearly, for 25 consecutive years and ran over 24 marathons.
Peter was widely known as the "Mayor of Big Mountain" (Big Mountain Ski Resort). He loved to welcome new and old comers to the mountain each season. He could be seen carving turns with his many friends or relaxing at the summit house between runs. His condo was always open for wine and cheese for friends apres-ski.
Peter was extremely dedicated to the Special Olympics, which he participated in both in their foundation and at ground level for the past 19 years. He always had a smile and word of encouragement for every athlete and loved leading the kickoff parade.
He was predeceased by his loving wife of 43 years, Martha Beldon Sawyer Brucato; and his brothers, John, Edward, Paul, George and Thomas.
He is survived by his brother, David; his sons, William and Madge, Peter and Patricia, and Frederic and Martha; his grandchildren, Martha, Allen, Eileen, Lauren and Peter; and several nieces and nephews.
His memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at Christ Church Episcopal in Kalispell.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Montana Special Olympics Winter Games (www.somt.org/donate).
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