Obituary: Gail Peterson, 81, of Sunny Isles, FL & Hamden, CT

Gail Peterson passed away peacefully in Miami, FL on December 30, 2024. She leaves behind Bruce, her adoring husband of 58 years and her sons Matthew (Mary Elizabeth) of Hamden, CT, and Scott (Anne) of Lexington, SC. She was beloved by her grandchildren Cole, Tess, Aidan, Ella, and Isabel. She always got great joy from being with her family. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends in New Haven and beyond.

Gail was born in Liberty, NY, in the ‘borsht belt’ in 1943 to David and Bess Geiver. Her father managed the famous Grossinger’s Hotel in the Catskills. If the Grossinger women were the queens of the hotel, Gail was its princess.

Gail and Bruce met on their first day at Dean Junior College in 1961 when Bruce asked her to meet for coffee; they were bonded ever since. She graduated from what is now SUNY New Paltz with a degree in education. She lived and taught in Hartford before settling in Hamden, CT which would be her home for most of her life.

Gail and Bruce opened BareWood Furniture in Guilford, CT. Gail never sold a thing in 20 years; she simply helped people find what they were looking for. Owning a successful small business requires sacrifices, which she made without complaint.

Gail became a Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth Sholom in Hamden, CT in 2007. The ability to ultimately perform this ritual was an important event in her life and helped her cement her Jewish identity. While this included a ceremony in Israel, it was the connection to her Jewish heritage and the relationships with her fellow B’nai Mitzvah that mattered most to her.

Her family thanks the staff at OpusCare Hospice and Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami for their care and comfort. Contributions in her memory can be made to the Peterson Family Endowment Fund at Temple Beth Sholom in Hamden, CT or online at https://tbshamden.shulcloud.co...

There will be a memorial service for Gail in CT in the near future.