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Peter L. Eckerson
A memorial service for Dr. Peter L. Eckerson, a longtime Southampton dentist who died on Saturday, December 3, at age 79, will be held on Monday, April 9, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Hearts Church in Southampton. A reception will follow at Fellingham’s Restaurant in the Village. A military service will be held at Calverton National Cemetery on Tuesday, April 10, at 11 a.m.
Dr. Eckerson, affectionately known as “Painless Pete,” practiced dentistry for many years from his office at 46 North Main Street and later at his home on Wickapogue Road.
Born in New York City on December 2, 1933, he grew up in Beechhurst, Queens. He attended Xavier High School where he played football. He received his undergraduate degree from Queens College where he ran track and worked during the summers as an ocean lifeguard at Jones Beach. After graduating from college, he received his degree in dentistry in 1961 from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Dr. Eckerson moved to Southampton following five years of duty with the U.S. Navy Dental Corps, serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. Upon leaving the service, he accepted a commission in the Naval Reserve and held the rank of lieutenant commander in that program. He was married to the former Joy Donley of Shadyside, Ohio.
Despite being confined to a wheelchair for most of his adult life, Dr. Eckerson was an avid blue water sailor, logging more than 50,000 ocean miles in his lifetime. In 1979, he fulfilled a lifelong dream to have a custom sailboat outfitted with a dental chair and spent several years practicing dentistry dockside at Fisher’s Island and in the Caribbean aboard his distinctive black-hulled “Mistress.” Navigating by sextant in the days before GPS, Dr. Eckerson sailed “Mistress” between Sag Harbor and the Caribbean more than a dozen times, weathering hurricane force winds on many voyages. While ashore, his passion for sailing was manifested in model shipbuilding. He spent hundreds of hours handcrafting intricate replicas of 18th century schooners.
Long-time friend Kevin Guidera called Dr. Eckerson “one of the funniest persons I ever met.” He had a quick wit and a sparkling sense of humor.
He is survived by two nephews, Dayton Eckerson of Maryland and Lloyd Dyer of California.
on Mar 27, 2012