July 26, 1971 – November 2, 2019
Husband of Carolyn Palmerino Elliott
Published November 11, 2019
STONEHAM — Peter Andrew Elliott of Stoneham passed away at his home on Saturday, November 2, 2019, All Souls Day. He was surrounded by all his family, with his cherished and devoted wife, Carolyn Palmerino Elliott, by his side. Peter had battled glioblastoma fiercely for more than two years, defying his prognosis with immeasurable courage and strength.
In addition to his wife, Peter is survived by his loving family: his mother, Carolyn (Calen) Elliott of Stoneham; his sister, Elizabeth Elliott of East Middlebury, Vermont; and his father, John A. Elliott, Jr., and wife, Marguerite Belfiore, of Tewksbury.
Peter will be profoundly missed by his aunts and uncles and by the cousins who adored him as a brother. His family includes his aunt Jean (Calen) Rioux of Falmouth and cousin Danielle (Rioux) Blacklock (husband Damon) of Silver Spring, Md.; his aunt and uncle Linda (Elliott) and Chris Nygaard of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and his aunts and uncles of Marblehead: Steven and Elaine (Sawin) Elliott, David and Jane (Elliott) Knight, and Heidi Elliott.
Peter had a deep love for the ocean in Marblehead, where he spent a great deal of his childhood making memories at Gracie’s Beach with adored cousins Ian Nygaard, Kristen (Nygaard) Nadaraja, Jody (Knight) Lemieux, Candace Knight, David Knight, Andrew Elliott, James Elliott, Rebecca (Elliott) Carballo, and Leif Hardison.
Peter was a man of immense courage who held an indomitable spirit. After completing his high school education, Peter served our country in the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, as a member of the U.S. Army, 1st Calvary Division. Following his tour with the army, he went to Newbury College and Bentley College under the GI Bill and then was employed as a Cleanroom laboratory tester.
Peter’s determination to find a cure for his brain cancer took him from Boston to New York to seek treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dana Farber, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Boston V.A., as he endured five surgeries and multiple clinical trials. Throughout his extensive grueling ordeals, Peter never once complained. Peter’s wife, his Carolyn, was his fiercest warrior who led the fight they battled together. Carolyn had worked tirelessly to locate and secure Peter’s acceptance into a trial that included immunotherapy treatment and a vaccine specifically designed to fight this aggressive version of glioblastoma. While we mourn that Peter ultimately did not have the opportunity to participate in this trial, we celebrate the fact that his journey, perseverance, and will to fight has made it possible to help others in their battle, as the vaccination now will be used for other patients. Through the pioneering efforts of his wife, the Veterans Administrations in Washington, D.C., and Boston now have made the same treatment available to veterans, as scientists continue to pursue a cure for glioblastoma.
Peter’s commitment to helping others has never stopped. In his desire to help find a cure for glioblastoma, he donated his brain to science, so that his battle may one day become another’s victory – a victory in which he will surely share.
Peter had an amazing smile that lit up a room. Always the jokester who gave the best bear hugs, he was a unique individual who shared his many talents. He loved to advance his knowledge in various capacities. A self-taught day trader, computer technician, carpenter, electrician, mechanic, and plumber, he was always on-call and jumped at the chance to help any family, friends, or neighbors in need. Peter was known and dearly loved for his kindness, empathy, humor, and generous spirit. It was on one such snowy afternoon in February of 2011 that he met upon a friendly neighbor whose car was stuck in a snowbank; one rescue and a thank-you batch of homemade chocolate-chip cookies later sealed the unbreakable union between Peter and Carolyn.
Peter was an avid New England sports fan who loved going to Red Sox games. Favorite times also included camping and weekends away in New Hampshire and Maine, along with walks with family in Woburn’s Horn Pond and Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield. Peter had a very active lifestyle and greatly enjoyed going to concerts, shows, restaurants, and movies with Carolyn, family, and friends.
Peter held a special place and presence in the minds and hearts of in-laws Al and Catherine Palmerino of Wakefield, and their children and families: Fred Palmerino, Catherine (Palmerino) and Bob Levitan, Stephen and Donna Palmerino, David and Amy Palmerino, and Cara Palmerino.
Many of Peter’s nephews and nieces affectionately called him “Uncle Tall Peter” because of his 6’4” frame. He was deeply loved by them, as they each held a very special place in his heart: Nicolas, Luke, Joshua, Abigail, and Benjamin Palmerino; Christopher, Danielle, and Kevin Palmerino; Peter, Bobby, and Allison Levitan; Dash Nadaraja; Lorenzo, Diego, and Angelo Knight-Girard; Haley, Abby, and Jake Lemieux; Arwen and Kaiden Elliott; and Abbott and Leland Hardison.
We have lost an extraordinary husband, son, brother, and friend but take comfort in knowing how many lives Peter touched with his compassion and generosity. He will be cherished forever with the enormous love he encouraged us all to pay forward. He will be remembered always for how he made each of us feel with his kindness and warm, giant hugs – that we mattered to him.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home, 322 Main St., Stoneham on Friday, December 20 from 9:30 – 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service beginning at 11 a.m.
