David
Stirling Peebles, 77, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully and
filled with love in the Palliative Care Suite at Central Vermont
Medical Center in Berlin, Vt., on May 20, 2024. This is not an
obituary, because he didn’t want one; this is a (very) short story
at the end of a long and rich life, for which he was exceedingly
grateful.
David
died in the arms of his soulmate, his everything, of 45 years,
Giovanna Morselli Peebles, after an intense week in the hospital,
where he was enveloped in the strongest love and care by Stirling
Peebles, Skye Peebles and Cameron Peebles. David’s death was
impossibly fast: He died 12 days after being diagnosed with an
aggressive, untreatable metastatic cancer. He died with grace and
bravery, fully present and wonderfully funny until his end.
David’s
passion to travel came to him late, when he and Giovanna retired in
2014, but it quickly became his favorite hobby and occupation. In the
decade after retirement, David and Giovanna spent several months each
year in Italy or Greece or both and elsewhere. Giovanna’s native
Italy became his adopted country. Part of his heart resided at our
longtime family camp near Rangeley, Maine, where he fly-fished like a
pro, hunted with Giovanna, made thousands of delicious meals on his
small four-burner gas stove, made lovely birchbark art and painted
brilliant wildlife art. David was the finest cook many of us have
ever known. He showed his love for family and friends by preparing an
infinite number of spectacular meals across the decades. In the full
and joyful year prior to his death, David spent wonderful weeks with
Giovanna, and sometimes other family, in Seville, Sicily, Venice
(Italy), Southern California, Puerto Rico and his beloved Montréal.
No doubt he was sick much of the past 12 months, but his strong body
and lion heart gave few signals of it. David was the most alive
person. He would remind everyone to embrace every minute of the time
you have left on Earth because, he would often tell us, “None of us
are getting out of this alive.”
We
want to thank the extraordinary staff at Central Vermont Medical
Center, who cared for David in his last week with the most remarkable
compassion, kindness and love. Your care meant the world to all of
us.
Per
David’s wishes, there will be no services. If you wish to celebrate
David, he would love for you to send a donation to Montpelier’s
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, the Vermont Historical Society in Barre or
the Outdoor Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, Maine. To send online
condolences to his family and see photos of a joyful David, please
visit awrfh.com.
This article appears in Jun 5-11, 2024.