Peter H. Woodbury

On the cusp of the solar eclipse, Peter Hall Woodbury died peacefully in his sleep on April 8, 2024.

Husband, Dad, Papa, brother and friend, Peter left an indelible mark on so many lives and will be deeply missed.

Printer by trade, finish carpenter by heart, Peter was born in Worcester on January 31, 1951.  He graduated from Worcester Academy, and later from the University of Denver with a degree in psychology, and furthered his education at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (School of Industrial Management).  After college he enjoyed time in Breckenridge, Colorado and Southwest Harbor, Maine, before returning to Worcester to join the family business, Woodbury and Company Inc, founded in 1879, as designers and producers of engraved commercial stationery.   

In his youth, he excelled at swimming, sailing and snow skiing -- and later enjoying annual ski trips out West with his father and brother, and later with his daughter and son.  He also enjoyed cycling and participated in the Pan Mass challenge for a decade, even convincing his son to join him twice on the ride.

Peter loved the outdoors, spending time at his family’s cottage on Mount Desert Island, Maine and creating a lifetime of memories boating, swimming, hiking, clearing the woods and lighting bonfires on the beach.  It was the love of this special place that motivated his daughter, Sarah to build a home on the adjacent property, where her dad guided her every decision. Peter’s love of the ocean led him to inspire his son, Chris, to become a boat captain, a source of great pride. He even had the opportunity to ride alongside his son on a few voyages north from Florida and St. Thomas to New England.  So many stories resulted from these adventures.

Peter and his wife Sharon cherished a special place in Martha’s Vineyard, where they married.  Throughout their marriage they shared a love for travel and especially the frequent trips across Europe with their lifelong friends from Worcester. 

Always the calm in the roughest of seas, he was unflappable, and his family relied on his wisdom and protection.

He leaves behind the love of his life, his wife of 43 years Sharon A. (O’Brien) Woodbury of West Boylston, son Christopher Duclos and his wife Veronica of Fort Lauderdale, FL, daughter, Sarah (Duclos) Neal and husband Justin of Wakefield, MA and their two children Maya and Jack as well as a brother, David Woodbury and his wife Susan of Worcester and their children. He was predeceased by his parents Elizabeth (Betty) and Kimball R. Woodbury.

Visiting hours will be Thursday, April 11 from 4 to 7 pm at Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester.  A service in Peter’s honor will be held on Friday, April 12 at 11 am at First Baptist Church, 111 Park Ave., Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to your local Boys and Girls Club or to St. John’s Food for the Poor Program, 44 Temple St., Worcester, MA 01604.