Eight Bells: Peter A. Gerard

Peter A. Gerard, 80, passed away on August 17, 2026, after a brief illness. Melinda, his loving wife of 52 years, and his daughter Jennifer were with him for his final moments.

To say that Peter was “larger than life” not only described his tall, distinguished, presence, but also how he chose to live and what he gave to others.

From his early childhood in New York to his business career in Texas to the hardest working “retirement’ ever known in Newport, Dallas, and Indio, California, no one who knew Peter could ever forget his booming voice, his strong opinions and insights, and, above all, the kindness and good will he radiated to one and all.

Peter was born and raised in the New York area. Along with another Texan with Northeastern roots who later had great success in politics, Peter attended Philips Academy Andover (’64) and Yale (’68), then went on to Harvard Business School where he graduated as a Baker Scholar.

After business school, Peter moved to Houston to work for a family business. He then moved to Dallas where he and Melinda married, raised Jennifer, and continued to call home for the rest of his life.

From his childhood, Peter was a superb athlete. At Andover he rowed on the varsity crew, a member of the boat that progressed to the final rounds at the Henley Royal Regatta. He proudly wore his Henley tie often, a striking reminder of that great event. At Yale, much to the disappointment of the coach of the crew, he joined the polo team, continuing his youthful fascination with riding.

Much later, in his fifties, he became passionate about golf. To no one’s surprise, he devoted himself to mastering the game. Like everyone else who has ever tried, he didn’t quite master it, but came pretty close; nearly shooting his age in his recent trips to the course.

Even more than the game itself though, he loved the camaraderie of great golf clubs and was a proud and active member of the Newport Country Club, the Dallas Athletic Club, and the Palms Golf Club in La Quinta.

But it was on the open water that Peter found his true calling. He began his deep involvement in sailing as a competitor, first in the J/24 and Shields classes, then on the crews of a number of legendary 12 Metre America’s Cup yachts.

However, it was as a race official, judge, and organizer that firmly established Peter’s place as a leader of the American sailboat racing community. To list Peter’s achievements and contributions to American sailing would take a volume.

Among the highlights, he was instrumental in developing the three-year “Road to the Worlds” series of regattas that culminated in Newport’s 2019 12 Metre World Championship. Peter served as Chairman of that championship, helping bring together an extraordinary international fleet of historic yachts. The event earned him and the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, US Sailing’s prestigious St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy.

In addition to the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Peter was an active member of the New York Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club, and Rush Creek Yacht Club of Dallas, where he had served as Commodore.

He remained active on the water until just a few weeks before his death. This July, he served as Principal Race Official for two of the most important races on the sailing calendar: the Bayview Mackinac Race, one of North America’s most storied distance races, and the 10th annual Camden Classics Cup in Maine.

For Peter, sailing was about far more than winning races or running them well. It was about the boats, the competition, the traditions of the sport and, above all, the friendships formed along the way. He once described sailing as a lifelong experience in which the people one meets form relationships that last forever.

Peter lived that belief. His decades of service reflected his desire to give back to a sport that had given him so much. Peter’s influence and the friendships he made will remain a lasting part of the sailing communities of Newport, the Great Lakes, Texas and far beyond.

At Peter’s express request, there will be no funeral. A memorial event may be scheduled at a later date.

Those wishing to commemorate Peter’s life may make gifts in his name to Bing Center for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia at Dana Farber, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, or Planned Parenthood.

Source: https://www.newportri.com/obituaries/ppvp1547398