Peter Nihil LaHart, Sr., age 81, of Lake Placid, died Friday, June 15, 2018 at the Alice Center in Malone.
Born in AuSable Forks, New York on September 22, 1936, he was the son of Clayton and Julia (Blaise) LaHart.
Peter, married his beloved, Shirley Elizabeth Terry, on April 12, 1958, in Holy Name Church in AuSable Forks. He remained a loving and devoted husband up through and since Shirley passed away on December 11, 2016.
Peter had lived most recent years in Lake Placid, and had previously lived in Wilmington, AuSable Forks, Saranac Lake, Bloomingdale, and West Haven, Connecticut. Peter served in the United States Air Force from 1954 through 1956 and was stationed at Walker Air Force Base in New Mexico. He was reknowned for his mechanical abilities and many area businesses took advantage of his expertise, including the American Management Association, W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center, Adirondack Biomedical Research, Saranac Lake General Hospital, and the Adirondack Medical Center. Earlier in his life, he also owned his own Taxi business, LaHart’s Taxi, and also worked for The North Pole, the Pacific Railroad, Dechantel Apartments, and also ran the Wawbeek with his wife Shirley. Peter was a “jack of all trades,” but he especially enjoyed gardening, fishing and spending time with his family.
He is survived by one son Peter (Darlene) LaHart, Jr. of Keeseville; 7 daughters: LindaSue (Randy) Greene of Lake Placid; Sharon LaHart of AuSable Forks, Pam (Mark) Pozzi of Goodview, VA, Patricia (Carl, III) Williams of Saranac Lake, Lucy (Kevin, Sr.) Goff of AuSable Forks, Rebecca (David) McKillip of Lake Placid and Venessa (Michael) Buckley of Gabriels. He is also survived by nineteen grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren and sister, Barbara Wortman. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, four brothers (Anthony, Clayton “Bug,” James, and Gerald), his sister Mabel, and two daughters (Margaret and Shirley),
Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Thursday, June 21, 2018 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 22, 2018 at St. Bernard's Church, with Rev. Patrick Ratigan officiating. Burial will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery in Saranac Lake.
Friends wishing to remember Peter Nihil LaHart, Sr. may make memorial contributions to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital or Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3357. in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.