Peter M. Ireland, of Burlington, Vt., passed away on September 25, 2026. He was surrounded by his family and in the town he loved. He leaves a legacy of dedication to his family, meaningful work and community engagement.
Born in 1937 to Harry M. Ireland and Helen A. Keenleyside, Peter grew up in Rye, N.Y., and spent his early years in and around New York City. In his youth, he was an avid photographer and nationally ranked rifleman. By young adulthood, after serving honorably in the U.S. Airforce Reserve, he found his way to Vermont, a place he proudly called home for the last 53 years.
Peter was a devoted husband and a great dad. In 1963, he met and married his beloved, Dorothy E. Wheeler (“Dottie”), in the hills of Ithaca, N.Y. Their partnership lasted 62 years, until Dottie’s passing in 2025. Together they raised four children, started businesses and supported each other through life. Devoted to his family, Peter would drive farther, work harder, and make any sacrifice to give his children opportunities and to ensure that they would get to grow up in Vermont. He encouraged the independence and unique character of each child and instilled the values of kindness, intellectual curiosity and hard work in his children.
Peter valued education, receiving a BA from Columbia University, an MBA in hospital administration from Cornell and, at the age of 57, a second master’s in evaluative clinical sciences from Dartmouth Medical School as part of the program’s inaugural class.
Peter had a long career in health care administration. He started in New York and New Jersey hospitals before moving to the Upper Valley, where he worked for Dartmouth Hitchcock Memorial Hospital as a financial administrator for over 10 years. He rose to the elite level of fellow at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) in 1982. Later, he would go on to contribute at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, Vt., and worked for the State of Vermont in the field of health care affordability.
Additionally, Peter was proud of his time as a Vermont innkeeper. He and Dottie purchased and ran the Wethersfield Lodge in Perkinsville, Vt., from 1973 to 1977. A consummate host, he would bartend, clean, serve and cook, all while inspiring guests to appreciate the beauty of Vermont as much as he did.
Peter was a deeply involved community member and a regular volunteer in many Vermont towns. In Norwich, he was an active member of the Lions Club and chaired the building committee for the addition to the Marion Cross School. In Manchester, he served as a docent at Hildene. In Burlington, he was a trustee of the library commission, a board member for Burlington City Arts and a volunteer book deliverer until he was 89. He ran the merry-go-round at the Shelburne Museum and ushered at the Flynn and Mozart Festival. Throughout his volunteering, he greeted and welcomed people with a smile.
Peter leaves behind four children (Arthur, Debbie, Charles and Jen), four fantastic grandchildren, and his remaining sister, Penny Low.
Peter was a model of positivity, resiliency, curiosity, helpfulness, problem-solving and open-hearted friendliness. In lieu of donations or flowers, we ask that you share a good memory, say hi to a neighbor, give back to your community and raise a toast to the old man on the bike path.
To share a memory, and to be kept up to date on celebration of life plans, please access the online guest book at readyfuneral.com.