Peter W. Johnson

Peter Walton Johnson, 92, of Hamden, beloved husband of Jeanette Murdock, passed away peacefully at his home on June 27, 2024 with his wife by his side. He was born in Queens, NY on July 10, 1931 to the late Col. David and Mary Cato Johnson.
Peter was a graduate of West Point and received his Masters from Perdue University before proudly serving his county in the US Army. He spent his career as an engineer with Sikorsky Aircraft working on gun systems for helicopters. He also worked for Olin and Ramset. Pete designed a powder actuated tool which earned him two patents. Pete’s work took him to Canada, Australia and France. It was in France where he developed lifelong friendships.
Pete had a passion for music. After the war, Pete’s father, a civil engineer, was sent to Japan to help re-build. It was here he learned piano chords, spending hours at the piano in the base chapel. Later in life, Pete taught himself to play the banjo and ukulele. For 14 years, he greatly enjoyed his time as leader of the Four String Ukulele Band of Southern Connecticut.
Pete loved to fly. He held an instrument rating and later owned a 1946 Taylor Craft. He also loved the outdoors. He hunted from the Bar’s camp in Vermont, with friends, for 60 years. He enjoyed watching and feeding the birds in his backyard. Pete skied in Vermont with his family and in the French Alps with his friends the Noiray family.
Briefly involved with two cat rescue groups, he and Jeanette ended up with seven rescues. Pete loved, enjoyed and missed his cats.
Pete could build or fix almost anything and was meticulous in his work. He designed their kitchen and installed the cabinets, fixtures and flooring. At Jeanette’s request, he cut out the kitchen and hall walls to make a pantry and linen closet with movable shelves. He built gun stocks, on which he did beautiful checkering. He made a stained-glass lamp and almost finished the madras jacket he was making for himself.
Besides his wife, Peter will be lovingly remembered by his son-in-law, Charles Eberhardt of Seattle, WA (Peter was predeceased by his beloved daughter, Deborah Eberhardt); sons and daughters-in-law, Bruce and Christi Johnson of Glen Ridge, NJ; Kenneth Johnson and Heidi Smith of East Haddam, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Peter was predeceased by siblings, Joanne Jones, David Johnson, and Jean Berry, and his former wife, Peg Curchin.
The family would like to thank Doctors Cynthia McNamara and Andrea Ruskin and the nursing, dietary and pharmacy staff at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06518 for the excellent care Pete received while at the facility and later under their Hospice Home Care. We also thank the Transportation department for providing Pete with a special red walker and other equipment.
Many thanks to the non-profit Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, 97 Barnes Road, Suite 4, Wallingford, CT 06492 nurses and aides, especially Ann Spenard, RN, for their excellent care and for all the supplies they provided.
Always Best Care Senior Services, 20 Ives Road, Wallingford, came to my rescue with an additional three hours of help for about a month. I thank them.
If you would like to make a donation in Pete’s name, please consider the VA’s or Masonicare Hospice programs or the following cat rescue organizations: Halfway Home or The Greater New Haven Cat Project. Private arrangements are in the care of Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden.