Peter Lee McCandless, 87, Dies; Promoted Reston In Early 1960s

RESTON, VA — Peter Lee McCandless, 87, of Reston, Virginia, passed away on December 26, 2023.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1936 to Lee and Mary McCandless, Peter attended Principia School (K-12) and Principia College, graduating in 1958. He joined the U.S. Army, taught English in Turkey, spent one year at Yale Drama School in New Haven, Connecticut before returning home to St. Louis and meeting his bride, Nancy Muehl, from Wisconsin.

In 1964, Peter moved his family to Northern Virginia where he embarked on a long and prosperous career in public relations, largely in the promotion of the new town of Reston, Virginia.

Traveling and being outdoors was his passion. He took his family on camping trips to the American Southwest, trips to visit his sister in Hawaii, and ocean cruises with Susan to explore Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, South America, and Australia. All his travels were documented through photography, one of Peter’s passions.

For the past several years, Peter loved working at Great Harvest Bread in Herndon, until his passing. Peter enjoyed singing with the Reston Chorale for several years and was an active member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Reston.

In 2017, he married Susan Ehart of Florida. Peter was preceded in death by both parents, first wife, Nancy McCandless, and sister Stephanie Reford. He is survived by his wife Susan, son Kristopher (Joanna), and stepdaughter Sarah.

A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor on Saturday, January 13, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Reston Community Center Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston, VA 20190.