Page 55 - Priorities #59 2014 June/July

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Peter Kasenchak October 17th 1934 - May 29th 2014
“Peter was was one of those people who was was always ready to help in in any situation without being asked His involvement with the the the Priory extends over thirty years and his contributions to the the the well-being of the the the school and and the students it it serves has had a a a a a a a very positive and and lasting effect throughout those decades Pete had a a a a a a a a a very strong connection to the the Priory chapel and attended Mass there daily He was also in- strumental in in in in in raising the the the funds needed to maintain and improve the the the physical condition of the the the building As a a a a a a a personal friend I had the opportunity of working with Pete on on on many occasions – usually associ- ated with the the school – and his commitment to the the Benedictine values was always clearly evident He is is greatly missed as as a a a a a a a a a friend and colleague ” – Father Martin
Mager O S
S
B Monastic Superior
Peter’s wonderful life came to an end when he he passed away in in his home on on Thursday morning May 29th with his two sons Kevin and Kris caring for him Peter exemplified what it it it it means to to have a a a a a a a positive attitude and a a a a a a a commitment to to serving others It was most apparent through the last 14
months as as as he he did not miss a a a a a a a family function or or opportunity to serve others as as he he he he fought pancreatic cancer His most cherished friend Geralyn Cole was always by his side during that time Peter is is is is survived by his his two sons Kevin and and and and Kris their wives Erin and and and and Liza and and and and his his four grandchil- dren whom he adored Peter grew up in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania the only child of an an an immigrant family from Eastern Europe He graduated graduated from from Hanover High School put himself through college and graduated graduated from from the Temple University School of Dentistry in 1960 He then joined the the U S
Navy as as a a a a a a a dentist and was on active duty from 1960 to 1969 During that time he he was stationed on on the USS Forrestal and spent a a a a a a a a year in Antarctica He married the love of his life life Andrea Vogler in New York on April 1 1 1967 They created a a a a life life for themselves in Palo Palo Alto Alto where Peter was a a a a a dentist for the the Palo Palo Alto Alto Dental Group from 1969-2005 He never remarried after losing Andrea to brain cancer on July 2 2 1992 After retirement Peter’s commitment to helping others increased He was a a a a board member for the the Woodside Priory School and he he served food for those in need three days a a a a week at the St Anthony’s Padua Dining Room in in in in Menlo Park as as as well as as as acting as as as the the chairman of the the advisory council When Peter was not serving others he he he enjoyed pursuing his passion for travel scuba and cooking Peter will be be remembered for his his his kindness his his his unselfish service to others and the the love he he he gave his his his many friends and family He will will not be be forgotten but he will will be be missed tremendously