It is with
deepest sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Peter Vincent
Doucette of Montague, aged 64, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on
Friday, January 4 th , 2019.
Peter is the
life-long partner and beloved soulmate of Jackie Bourgeois of
Montague, and cherished member of the Bourgeois family, brother, uncle
and dearest friend. Peter was predeceased by his parents, Wilfred
Vincent and Gertrude Margaret Doucette (nee Lord), both of
Charlottetown. He was the eldest sibling to Stephen, Ellen, Anne and
Matthew.
In his early years, Peter lived
in Quincy, Massachusetts and was educated at Stonehill College, North
Easton, MA. A politician in the making, Peter worked alongside US
Senator Ted Kennedy as his Youth Campaign Manager and he had a varied
and extensive career upon returning home to PEI. He was a much-loved
and well-respected politician, CEO, carpenter, farmer, road
construction foreman, director of the Riverview Area Community
Enhancement Group, program manager of the Regional Co-operative
Development Centre in Moncton, and a contractor with Georgetown
Shipyards and other private sector construction
companies.
In 1989, Peter was first elected
as the youngest MLA to take office in the Legislative Assembly in the
General Election for riding of 3 rd Kings. He was re-elected in 1993.
In April of that year, Peter was appointed government Whip and served
on several legislative committees, chaired the Standing Committee on
Justice Labour and Industry, and the Special Committee on Maritime
Economic Integration.
Peter had such
a love for his community of Montague and wanted to see growth and
success in the town. He offered his vision, perspectives and
outside-the-box ideas for a number of years after being elected to
Town Council.
Peter was an
outstanding and committed volunteer who generously gave his time to
many community organizations. From 1986-1990, Peter served as a
director and chair of the Montague Credit Union; was a founding member
of the Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank in 1986; served as chair of
the Southern Kings and Queens Advisory Board from 1987-1989; became a
lifetime member and served as President and Secretary-Treasurer of the
Montague Lions Club from 1987-1990; and was instrumental in the
creation and establishment of the S.A.V.E Program (Students Against
Violence Everywhere).
In recent years, Peter was also
instrumental in forming Artisans on Main in Montague; was a past Board
member of Health PEI; and currently sat on the board of the Montague
Economic Development Corporation.
Peter was a
visionary who profoundly cared for people living with disabilities. He
understood the challenges and wanted to make the world more accessible
for everyone. He was tenacious when presented with a challenge and he
used that skill to recover from a stroke in 2004 and heart attack in
2010. He knew recovery was a journey and unique to every individual.
He always accepted people and respected where they were on their
journey. He led by example and valued all points of view. Peter
dedicated 9 years of service as Chairman of the Board with the PEI
Council of People with Disabilities.
Visitation will be
on Friday, January 11 th from 2-4 and 7-9 at the Ferguson-Logan
Montague Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will take place Saturday, January
12 th at St. Mary’s Parish, Montague at 2:00 PM. Interment
will take place at St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery at a later
date. If so desired, memorial donations may be made in
Peter’s memory to the Southeast Environmental Association,
or the PEI Council of People with Disabilities.