Obituary of Peter Godfrey
Peter Godfrey, MD
Olean, NY Dr. Peter Godfrey, a physician and resident of Olean passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at his home, following a short illness.
Born July 8, 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts, he was the son of Dr. John and Jean Fuller Godfrey of Olean. He married his true love and best friend, Sharon (Neiler) Godfrey on February 7, 1970 at St. Mary’s of the Angels Church in Olean.
Dr. Godfrey spent his boyhood in Olean where he was an accomplished skier, horseman and sailor. He graduated from Olean High School in 1964, Dartmouth College, class of 1968 and Albany Medical College, 1978. Following a residency at Rochester General Hospital, Dr. Godfrey returned to Olean to practice internal medicine and occupational medicine at the Olean Medical Group. Dr. Godfrey was devoted to his patients and was highly regarded as an astute and caring physician. He retired from practice in December, 2017.
He served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army in Stuttgart, Germany from 1967 to 1969.
Dr. Godfrey’s greatest joy was his family and he relished their time together. He had many interests that enriched his life through the years. He enjoyed golfing, downhill skiing and sailing, became an avid bicyclist and cross country skier, was a voracious reader and shared his active intellect with friends and family with whom he enjoyed sparring over political or philosophical topics.
Dr. Godfrey was loved and admired for his kindness, his strong character and gentle manner.
In addition to his wife of 48 years, he is survived by a son, John (Marie-Pierre Nadeau) Godfrey of Winooski, VT, and three daughters, Jennifer (David Sakowski) Godfrey of Somerville, MA, Erin Godfrey of Boulder, CO, and Amy (Kirill Tolpygo) Godfrey of Durham, NC.; three grandchildren, Dorothy Sakowski, Charles Sakowski and Yuri Tolpygo; three sisters, Judith Patton, Patricia McKinley and Jane Larmon; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a brother, Lt. John Godfrey, Jr, and by his parents, John Godfrey, MD and Jean Fuller Godfrey.
Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road, Olean, on Saturday, July 28, 2018 from 10 am to 1pm. A private funeral service will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to Homecare and Hospice 1225 W. State St., Olean, NY 14760, the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, 301 N Union St. #203, Olean, NY 14760, or Olean General Hospital, 505 Main St. Olean, NY 14760. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.
