Former fire chief, Ambulance Service director, founder of Harvard Realty
Peter Warren. (Courtesy photo)
Peter Edward Warren, 84, retired chief of the Harvard Fire Department, died Friday, March 18, 2022, after a brief illness.
Peter was born Feb. 22, 1938, in Quincy, to Harold Raymond and Elsa (Schuerch) Warren. When he was young the family moved to Milton where Peter attended school, graduating from Milton High School in 1956. Peter married his high school sweetheart, June Maclary, on Sept. 11, 1959. They then moved to Harvard where he would live until his death.
In 1960, Peter graduated from Curry College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was Master Mason for 62 years. In 1964, Peter enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard and served until 1967, rising to the rank of staff sergeant of the 1st Battalion, 110th Armory. In the early 1960s, Peter became a real estate agent; soon afterward he founded Harvard Realty. Over the years he helped thousands navigate the process of buying or selling a home in the Harvard area.
In 1964, Peter joined the Harvard Fire Department, which would become his second family. He was an active member of the department, assisting with the ham and bean suppers, chicken barbecues, turkey raffles, and weekly firefighters’ musters during the summers. Peter was appointed lieutenant in 1992, deputy chief in 1994, and chief of the department in 1996. As chief, Peter was active in the area chief meetings, Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, and Mid-State Mutual Aid Association. In 2001, Peter gave up the real estate business to become Harvard’s first full-time fire chief, a position he held until his retirement from the fire service in 2004.
In 1972, Peter was asked by the Board of Selectmen to help establish and lead the Harvard Ambulance Service. He served as its director from inception until his retirement from EMS in 1986. Among his other commitments to community service, he was active in the Ayer Rotary Club for over 40 years, served as a trustee of North Middlesex Savings Bank for many years, and was a member of the Harvard Board of Selectmen, Board of Assessors, and Harvard Charter Commission.
When Peter wasn’t helping others around Harvard, he spent his weekends and several weeks each summer at his home on Lake Wentworth in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Peter, however, couldn’t spend all his time relaxing at the lake. He served on the Point Breeze Association board and later the Holden Shore Association board. In more recent years, Peter volunteered for the Lake Wentworth Association as a lake host.
Peter leaves behind his wife of 62 years, June, and was predeceased by his daughter Deborah (Warren) Perry. He is also survived by his son, Peter (Rob) Warren and his wife, Sherry; three grandchildren, Andrew Perry and his wife, Loralee; Krystal (Warren) Hartwell and her husband, Johnny; and Justin Warren; and four great-grandchildren, Deborah and Emma Perry, and Mikey and Grace Hartwell.
Family and friends will gather for calling hours on Friday, March 25, 2022, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Badger Funeral Home, 347 King Street, Littleton. Burial is private; a celebration of life is to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Harvard Council on Aging, P.O. Box 474, Harvard MA 01451 or Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1, Ayer MA 01432.
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