Henry Leighton “Pete” Nash, Jr., 96, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013.

Known to all who knew him as “Pete,” he was the son of Henry Leighton Nash and Helen Adams, born Dec. 7, 1916, in Indianapolis, Ind.

Pete spent most of his formative years in Omaha, Neb., where he graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1934. He went east to attend Bowdoin College in Maine, graduating in 1938 with a degree in Economics, then on to Harvard Business School, where he earned his MBA in 1940. Following graduate school, Pete moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where he began work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. With WWII in full swing, Pete entered the Navy in 1942, advancing to the rank of First Lieutenant. His tour of duty took him to the South Pacific where he served on an LST for two years before returning to the States in 1945; the year, he met and soon married the former Anne Cassat, in New York City, N.Y., in 1946. Back to working for Northwestern Bell, the couple lived for a time in Minneapolis before a series of moves, including Des Moines, Omaha, and Fargo, which led to different positions within the company. Pete then was transferred to AT&T in New York City, relocating his family to Ramsey, N.J., in 1962. The father of four girls, Pete enjoyed spending time in Maine at his beloved Pond Island, the family’s summer home, a love now shared by his daughters and their offspring as well. He loved being on the water whether in Maine or in Florida, and over the years became a devoted gardener on his hillside in Dummerston, Vt., where he and Anne had retired in 1979. Here he loved his daily walks along country roads with one of several faithful dogs at his side. Though retired, Pete was never one for being inactive; over the years, he and Anne traveled to every continent with the exception of Antarctica, but getting oh so close, with a cruise around Cape Horn. Summers were spent in Vermont, while the cold New England winters were avoided by spending six months of the year in their condo in Punta Gorda, Fla. Pete loved to play golf and continued to enjoy the game up until his last days, shooting an 81 just a day after his 96th birthday. A staunch supporter of Bowdoin College, Pete attended many reunions and was looking forward to his 75th this year. Wherever he was, Pete was involved in service to others, whether it was through the Elks Club, serving as Treasurer for Ramsey Presbyterian Church, or helping bake pies for the annual Dummerston Apple Pie Festival, to mention a few.

Pete is survived by his wife of 66 years, Anne; daughters, Betsy (Steve) Homewood of Rockford, Ill., Pris (Paul) Adler of Annapolis, Md., Barbara Nash of Yarmouth, Maine, and Jennifer Nash of Punta Gorda; grandchildren, Stephanie (Brandon) Boozer, Arin (Rich) Rumovicz, Brad (Amber) Homewood, Allison (Brian Smith) Willenbrink, Tim Adler, Jane (Will) Henderling, Jessica Ralston, Jason Ralston, and Jeffrey Ralston; 10 great-grandchildren; and a number of fond nieces and nephews, to whom Uncle Pete was known as the “energizer bunny.”

A Memorial Service to celebrate Pete’s life will be 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Dummerston Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dummerston Congregational Church, 32 Park Laughton Road, East Dummerston, VT 05346.

Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services.