John O. Peck, of Vista, NY, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 14, 2025, at the age of 73.
John O. Peck
John was born in Mount Kisco, NY, on June 11, 1951, to the late Oliver “Jack” and Elizabeth “Betty” Peck. A lifelong resident of Vista, he was a proud graduate of the John Jay High School Class of 1970 in Cross River, NY.
In April 1973, John met his soulmate, Carol. The two married on May 1, 1981, and together they built a beautiful life. Their family began on July 11, 1986, with the birth of their first son, Jeffrey, followed by Michael on January 9, 1991. John was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, race car driver, small business owner, and a friend to all.
John and Carol shared a love that spanned over 50 years. Whether it was “just going out for a drive,” grabbing dinner at a local deli or restaurant, or making breakfast for Carol every Sunday and Wednesday morning, John cherished the simple joys of life with her. Their sons would often find them sitting outside on a summer day, in lawn chairs, just talking and enjoying each other’s company. Every day was a countdown to their next Walt Disney World trip. Through every challenge, especially John’s battles with cancer, Carol never left his side. He was forever grateful for her unwavering love and care.
John was a dedicated father, instilling in his sons the values of respect, fairness, honesty, and hard work. He often reminded Jeff and Mike, “When you do something, do it right.” He took immense pride in coaching Jeff’s Little League team, lifting him in excitement when they won the championship, and cheering Mike on as he raced, watching the “candy apple red” #11 from his own racing days live on in Mike’s go-kart as he entered victory lane. As firefighters, Jeff and Mike made John immensely proud—every time the Vista Firehouse siren rang, he turned on his scanner, eager to hear them sign on for the call. He recently shared how lucky he and Carol were “to have such good sons.”
John worked tirelessly to provide for his family, often putting in long hours seven days a week. He ensured they always had a roof over their heads, experienced unforgettable moments, and celebrated birthdays and holidays in grand fashion—all through his own hard work and determination.
A true car enthusiast, John loved sharing stories of his drag racing days at Dover Drag Strip in Wingdale, NY, and competing as a modified race car driver at the Danbury Racearena in Danbury, CT. His passion for speed was embodied in the legendary Chevrolet Nova, “The Persuader,” and his 1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro. The iconic decals (“You’ve Just Been Persuaded”) and license plates (“UBINHAD”) are still fondly remembered by friends today.
In the late 1980s, John founded J.O. Peck Heating & Cooling, serving Fairfield County, CT, and Westchester County, NY. He took immense pride in his craftsmanship, especially in his ductwork, and was proud to earn his Connecticut S-1 license. More than anything, he was known for his honesty, fairness, and dedication to his customers, treating every job as if he were working for a friend or family member.
In 1995 John & Carol took their family for the first of many, many, many trips to Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. They soon joined the Disney Vacation Club, considering Disney’s Old Key West Resort (Room 1720) their second home. John gloated about how many combined days he & Carol stayed on a Walt Disney World-owned property, which was literally years, and how many times Mike went to Walt Disney World that exceeded his age. His “happy place” was a simple one—sitting at Miller Road Pool, smoking a cigar, sipping coffee, and reading car magazines.
John was a true warrior, bravely defeating cancer three times—in 1999, 2011, and most recently in 2024. His family is forever grateful to the doctors and nurses who cared for him throughout the years. No matter the battle, John always fought to come out victorious for the ones he loved.
Fondly known as “Fun Johnny,” he had a larger-than-life personality and an incredible sense of humor. Whether it was playing a harmless prank, dancing spontaneously (even in a Walgreens parking lot in Orlando), or flashing his custom-made “FJ” pinky ring that he got made at Disney Springs, John lived to make others laugh.
John was a friend to so many that he treated and loved like his own family. His sons were always in awe how much everyone loved and respected him. He would drive around town, mostly in New Canaan, CT, in between jobs for the day, stopping to see various friends along the way and it was abundantly clear he had a connection with everyone. People respected his opinion, admired his work ethic, and held him in the highest regard.
John loved seeing his family grow over the years whether it was sharing his love of Disney World with his Kimmie (“Jo”) and Rebecca (“Jane”) or sitting out in the backyard, sitting in a lawn chair as Kona or Winnie walked the property leashed to an anchor he put in the ground so he could spend time with his “Grand Puppies.” John would vocalize to many how lucky they were to see their family grow with such welcomed and loved additions.
Most recently John really loved becoming a Grandfather to Reagan and Luke. He went by “Papa” or “Papa FJ” and took extreme joy having Reagan or Luke sit near him where he would softly caress their hands telling them how precious they both were while gazing at them with so much love and affection. His Grandchildren will be forever left with John’s lasting gift that every time they pass the sign in Disney’s Magic Kingdom that reads: “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy,” that it’s because of their Papa.
John is survived by his beloved wife and soulmate of over 50+ years, Carol of Vista, NY; his sons Jeffrey Peck (Kimberly) of Vista, NY, and Michael Peck (Rebecca) of Ridgefield, CT; and his cherished grandchildren Reagan (“Pug”) and Luke (“The Dude”). He is also survived by his siblings April Herbert (Kevin), Peter Peck (Colleen), and Penny Peck (Alicia), as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends who were like family to him.
He will be missed beyond measure.
Services:
A wake will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church Street, Georgetown, CT 06829.
The family welcomes all to a public graveside service to be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 @ 11am at Lakeview Cemetery, 352 Main Street, New Canaan, CT. Family and friends are welcome to join us for a “Celebration of Life” at the Vista Volunteer Fire Department in South Salem, NY following the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Vista Volunteer Fire Department, 377 Smith Ridge Road, South Salem, NY 10590.
[This obituary appeared on the Bouton Funeral Home website.]