A Tribute To Our Friend Peter

I have some sad news - GDB friend Peter Bondante, also known as "DrGoat", passed away last week after a long illness. Going back through my Gmail, I see that Peter and I first exchanged email messages back in 2015 - the first of many! He was always kind and complimentary, and happy to share any personal photos that he had with me and with the rest of the Junior Gorillas. 

Now that GDB is over 17 years old, it's no surprise that we have lost some friends, but it is always a punch in the gut to hear that somebody is really gone. I am grateful to Peter for his friendship and generosity.

I decided to put together a tribute to him, using some of the photos that he's sent me over the years. You've seen some, and others will be new to you.

First up, here's baby Peter with his beloved sister Christina ("Chris"), who he once referred to as "the white sheep of the family". I believe she went on to become a doctor of some kind, but I'm not having any luck finding the info in my Gmail.

Next is this adorable photo of Peter, with his mother and sister Christina, on a bountiful Christmas day. Everybody looks so happy! 

Another Christmas portrait from a few years later. Peter sure got some sweet toys.

Peter sent me a series of photos, unfortunately I can't find the emails that give specific context, but I do remember that they showed the ordered chaos that involved the family's packing before a big summer road trip. Incredible! How many hats were needed? At least four! These family road trips were a formative part of Peter's childhood.

Now let's hop to July of 1961, with a series of photos taken by Peter's Uncle, from whom the nickname "DrGoat" originated. The Uncle (Charles Clement), a talented artist, did the illustrations for a children's book titled "Dr. Goat", still beloved by many who read it as kids (read about Charles HERE).  In this first picture, the family waves to the camera from the top of the Omnibus. From left to right: Aunt Louise, Peter's Dad, his Mom, his sister Chris, and Peter himself.

Here's the cover of "Dr. Goat".... copies in good condition can fetch hundreds of dollars today!

Everyone's hopping aboard the Columbia, still relatively new in 1961. Such a neat, sunshiny picture!

Peter is prepared to fire the cannon, ready to scare off any river pirates, or (better yet), repel any AEDs. 

There's Peter and his Father aboard a cool Mark V Autopia vehicle. Peter loved his Mom and Dad so much, it was very touching to hear him talk about them.

I loved the title Peter put on this photo: "Me somewhere?". He's reclining on an amorphous sculpture that could be found behind the Monsanto House of the Future. It looks like a tooth from a Martian wooly mammoth. As you can see for yourself.

That same trip found the family visiting Knott's Berry Farm, and a chance for a photo with Marilyn and Cecelia, during a break from their jobs as business managers (or something). Peter's wearing the red shirt, and his Uncle Clement is beside him.

Here's a very fun family portrait from the Pitcher Gallery! Peter looks just the same to me, but as you can see, the photo is dated from one year later.

Peter seemed unsure of the year that this next photo was taken, though he is clearly a little older. 

Next we see the Mad Tea Party attraction, with Peter, Chris, and their friend Ray in the teacup to the left.

From that same trip, here's Peter and his father. Pete's looking at his iPhone!

I love this next great image of me and Quentin in ’72 on our way to LA and Disneyland for a week or two, driving my new Fiat 850 Spider which you could lift up the back end with two strong guys, or gals. Fun to drive but problematic at times.

Now we'll hop forward over 20 years for this picture. That's me (sideburns at the time), my wife Peggy and friend Tom in Disneyland 1996. Those are some five-star sideburns!

I included this photo, which Peter titled "Early Entry", because the story was funny. As Peter and his wife Peggy walked into Tomorrowland first thing in the morning, they saw Chip and Dale. One had his Chip head off and when 'Dale' saw us he quickly encouraged Chip to put the head back on. Peter said that Chip and Dale were visible in the high-res version of this photo, but I can't see them here.

And the last of the photos is this wonderful picture (possibly from around 2001) of Peter with his beloved wife of over 40 years, Peggy, posing with Mickey Mouse in ToonTown. He said it was the third day of a much anticipated 4 day trip to Disneyland. I think we were pretty ragged by then. 

My heart goes out to Peggy, who gave Sue B. this kind message regarding the GDB community: "Thank everyone, as Peter got SO MUCH JOY from this group.  Everyone brought him happiness!". There can be no higher praise. Sue says that Peggy is not much of a computer person, but I plan on writing her as soon as I can, so that I can tell her how much Peter meant to all of us. He will truly be missed.