Robert Newton Peck was born February 17, 1928 in Ticonderoga, New York to Frank Haven Peck and Lucile Dornburgh. He was named for his grandfathers, Robert Dornburgh and Newton Peck. His parents separated when he was two, and he was raised by his mother and her sister, Caroline, in Ticonderoga where he attended school.
He entered the military at a young age, serving in Italy, Germany, and France in 1945-1947 in the 88th Infantry Division, receiving a commendation. Following his military service, Mr. Peck moved to Florida to attend Rollins College on a football scholarship and obtained his B.A. It was at Rollins that he met his lifelong friend “Mr. Rogers”, Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Rogers was to be an usher in Mr. Peck’s 1958 wedding.
Mr. Peck began law school at Cornell, but withdrew before completing his studies. He worked in various capacities, including as an advertising executive in New York City, and writing jingles for commercials. However, after the publication of his first novel, "A Day No Pigs Would Die", in 1972 Peck devoted his time to writing. He returned to Florida in the 1970’s and remained there for the rest of his life.
Over the course of the last nearly half century of his life, Robert Newton Peck made a name for himself as a writer of fiction, primarily for children and young adults, publishing over 65 books, including the popular "Soup" series of semi-autobiographical novels set in Vermont, where his grandfather had grown up. One of his final books was an autobiography, "Weeds in Bloom: Autobiography of an Ordinary Man". He was the recipient of numerous honors for his works. Peck was a popular speaker and made himself available to teachers and students, often honoring one of his early teachers, who was immortalized as “Miss Kelly” in his "Soup" books.
Mr. Peck was married twice, to Dorothy Anne Houston in 1958, and to Sharon “Sam” Michael in 1995. He had a son, Christopher, and daughter, Anne, by his first marriage.
Robert Newton Peck died in Longwood, Florida at age 92 on June 23, 2020.
Source: Anonymous contribution by a FindAGrave contributor
He entered the military at a young age, serving in Italy, Germany, and France in 1945-1947 in the 88th Infantry Division, receiving a commendation. Following his military service, Mr. Peck moved to Florida to attend Rollins College on a football scholarship and obtained his B.A. It was at Rollins that he met his lifelong friend “Mr. Rogers”, Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Rogers was to be an usher in Mr. Peck’s 1958 wedding.
Mr. Peck began law school at Cornell, but withdrew before completing his studies. He worked in various capacities, including as an advertising executive in New York City, and writing jingles for commercials. However, after the publication of his first novel, "A Day No Pigs Would Die", in 1972 Peck devoted his time to writing. He returned to Florida in the 1970’s and remained there for the rest of his life.
Over the course of the last nearly half century of his life, Robert Newton Peck made a name for himself as a writer of fiction, primarily for children and young adults, publishing over 65 books, including the popular "Soup" series of semi-autobiographical novels set in Vermont, where his grandfather had grown up. One of his final books was an autobiography, "Weeds in Bloom: Autobiography of an Ordinary Man". He was the recipient of numerous honors for his works. Peck was a popular speaker and made himself available to teachers and students, often honoring one of his early teachers, who was immortalized as “Miss Kelly” in his "Soup" books.
Mr. Peck was married twice, to Dorothy Anne Houston in 1958, and to Sharon “Sam” Michael in 1995. He had a son, Christopher, and daughter, Anne, by his first marriage.
Robert Newton Peck died in Longwood, Florida at age 92 on June 23, 2020.
Source: Anonymous contribution by a FindAGrave contributor
Robert Newton Peck was born February 17, 1928 in Ticonderoga, New York to Frank Haven Peck and Lucile Dornburgh. He was named for his grandfathers, Robert Dornburgh and Newton Peck. His parents separated when he was two, and he was raised by his mother and her sister, Caroline, in Ticonderoga where he attended school.
He entered the military at a young age, serving in Italy, Germany, and France in 1945-1947 in the 88th Infantry Division, receiving a commendation. Following his military service, Mr. Peck moved to Florida to attend Rollins College on a football scholarship and obtained his B.A. It was at Rollins that he met his lifelong friend “Mr. Rogers”, Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Rogers was to be an usher in Mr. Peck’s 1958 wedding.
Mr. Peck began law school at Cornell, but withdrew before completing his studies. He worked in various capacities, including as an advertising executive in New York City, and writing jingles for commercials. However, after the publication of his first novel, "A Day No Pigs Would Die", in 1972 Peck devoted his time to writing. He returned to Florida in the 1970’s and remained there for the rest of his life.
Over the course of the last nearly half century of his life, Robert Newton Peck made a name for himself as a writer of fiction, primarily for children and young adults, publishing over 65 books, including the popular "Soup" series of semi-autobiographical novels set in Vermont, where his grandfather had grown up. One of his final books was an autobiography, "Weeds in Bloom: Autobiography of an Ordinary Man". He was the recipient of numerous honors for his works. Peck was a popular speaker and made himself available to teachers and students, often honoring one of his early teachers, who was immortalized as “Miss Kelly” in his "Soup" books.
Mr. Peck was married twice, to Dorothy Anne Houston in 1958, and to Sharon “Sam” Michael in 1995. He had a son, Christopher, and daughter, Anne, by his first marriage.
Robert Newton Peck died in Longwood, Florida at age 92 on June 23, 2020.
Source: Anonymous contribution by a FindAGrave contributor
He entered the military at a young age, serving in Italy, Germany, and France in 1945-1947 in the 88th Infantry Division, receiving a commendation. Following his military service, Mr. Peck moved to Florida to attend Rollins College on a football scholarship and obtained his B.A. It was at Rollins that he met his lifelong friend “Mr. Rogers”, Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Rogers was to be an usher in Mr. Peck’s 1958 wedding.
Mr. Peck began law school at Cornell, but withdrew before completing his studies. He worked in various capacities, including as an advertising executive in New York City, and writing jingles for commercials. However, after the publication of his first novel, "A Day No Pigs Would Die", in 1972 Peck devoted his time to writing. He returned to Florida in the 1970’s and remained there for the rest of his life.
Over the course of the last nearly half century of his life, Robert Newton Peck made a name for himself as a writer of fiction, primarily for children and young adults, publishing over 65 books, including the popular "Soup" series of semi-autobiographical novels set in Vermont, where his grandfather had grown up. One of his final books was an autobiography, "Weeds in Bloom: Autobiography of an Ordinary Man". He was the recipient of numerous honors for his works. Peck was a popular speaker and made himself available to teachers and students, often honoring one of his early teachers, who was immortalized as “Miss Kelly” in his "Soup" books.
Mr. Peck was married twice, to Dorothy Anne Houston in 1958, and to Sharon “Sam” Michael in 1995. He had a son, Christopher, and daughter, Anne, by his first marriage.
Robert Newton Peck died in Longwood, Florida at age 92 on June 23, 2020.
Source: Anonymous contribution by a FindAGrave contributor
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