Avid soccer fan, also enjoyed hiking in the woods

Published in the June 21, 2018 edition

NORTH READING — Peter C. Sapp, 52, of North Reading and formerly of Huntsville, Alabama, died at his home, surrounded by his family on Saturday, June 16, 2018.

Born in Westminster, Calif. on August 27, 1965, he was a graduate of Grissom High School in Huntsville, Alabama, Class of 1983 and graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Class of 1988. Peter worked as a research scientist for Howard Hughes Medical Institute at UMass Medical School. Peter spent his entire professional career studying the genetic cause of ALS. He was instrumental in the discovery of the first gene linked with the disease.

He has been a resident of North Reading for the past 26 years. He was an avid soccer fan and coached his three children in North Reading Youth Soccer between 2000–2015. His greatest pleasure was hiking in the woods with his family, friends, and his dog.

Family members include his loving wife of 27 years, Ellen (Clifford) Sapp; his son, Adam Sapp; his daughters, Kiera Sapp and Susannah Sapp; his parents, T. Phillip Sapp and Bernita (Crater) Sapp; his brother, Paul Sapp; and his sister, Pamela (Sapp) Collins.

Visitation was held on Monday, June 18 at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. There will be no funeral service. There will be a gathering in Huntsville, Alabama at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to The Angel Fund for ALS Research, 649 Main Street, Wakefield, MA 01880, www.theangelfund.org. www.CroswellFuneralHome.com.