Peter hay Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

HAY, Peter Marsland, 93. Oct. 5 1921 - Nov. 18 2014. The third of six children, Peter was born in Ft. Riley, Kansas on Oct. 5, 1921 to Doris Drain Hay and Edward Northup Hay. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 52 years, Ellen Buchanan Hay. He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Hay Haas, son-in-law Stanley B. Haas, granddaughter Laura Haas Davidson and husband James Davidson and great-grandson Luke James Davidson of Redwood City, CA, and grandson Peter B. Haas of Seattle, WA. He also leaves sister Virginia Hay Smith of Oak Park IL, sister-in-law Susan Hay of Concord, MA, and numerous nieces and nephews. Peter enjoyed a distinguished career as an organic chemist. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Antioch College in 1944. After service in the Second World War in the Pacific Theater, serving as an interpreter in Japan with the Army of Occupation after the Japanese surrender, he continued his studies at Ohio State where he received his Ph.D. in 1951. He worked in the chemical industry in the greater New York City area for his entire career, for Olin Industries, J P Stevens & Co., Celanese Corp. and Sandoz Ltd. He received five patents for chemical processes and was published in various scientific journals. He was a member of the New Jersey Governor's Science Advisory Committee, the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the New York Academy of Science and the New Jersey Academy of Science. Peter was a descendant of Henry B. Northup, the man who ended the unjust slavery of Solomon Northup described in 12 Years a Slave. Peter grew up in the Philadelphia area. During his professional career Peter lived in Hamden, Connecticut and then Summit, New Jersey. He moved to Houston in 2004 with his wife, Ellen. In Summit, Peter and Ellen were members of the First Unitarian Church of Summit for 33 years. An accomplished public speaker, Peter delivered several sermons there. Peter loved music, both classical and jazz, and sang in Summit with the church choir and also with The Summit Chorale, and in Houston with the choir at Emerson Unitarian Church. Peter loved sailing and enjoyed his Eastward Ho sloop which he sailed on New York Bay for many years. The family would like to acknowledge caregiver Mikki LaFleur for her devoted and intelligent care for Peter during the last years of his life as well as the staff at The Forum at Memorial Woods. In lieu of flowers, donations are invited to Home First (formerly Interfaith Council for the Homeless), 1009 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060.