Peter Cranston Blaisdell

Husband/Father/Grandfather/Brother/USCG Officer/Sailor

Peter Blaisdell died after a long, courageous battle with Parkinsons disease with Lewy Bodies on December 19, 2024, in his beloved seashore hometown of Marblehead, Mass at The Mariner. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Penny (Beverley) Robinson Blaisdell, his two children, Benjamin Blaisdell of Marblehead and Betsy Blaisdell Sheppard of Portsmouth, NH, their respective spouses Lacey Payne Blaisdell and Stewart Sheppard and five grandchildren. Peter also leaves two brothers: Philip Blaisdell of Marblehead and Barry Blaisdell of Venice, Florida and his predeceased brother, Pastor Roger Blaisdell.

Peter’s early years in Marblehead were spent “messing around in boats” which grew into a deep attachment to life by the sea. As a youngster, Peter became a handyperson working on the antique buildings in old town. He developed a wealth of knowledge about boats and home maintenance from his dad, which served him well. In 1960, Peter’s family relocated to southern California where he attended high school in La Jolla and earned a BA in history at UC Santa Barbara. At UCSB, Peter worked several jobs to support himself including foreign car repair, botany, and driving a cab.

Upon graduation from UCSB, Peter was drafted into military service. He returned to Marblehead to join the US Coast Guard. What began as a four-year commitment became an adventurous career, with spanning 21 years of service and retiring as a Lt. Commander. His duty assignments were mainly in the First Coast District, which encompasses New England and New York (with a 4-year stint as Captain of the Port at Governors Island, NY)) where his responsibilities were Port Safety, Port Security, Law Enforcement, and Environmental Response to coastal oil and chemical spills. He also served as the public affairs officer and admiral’s aide for the District Commander. After his active service, Peter was hired as Operations Manager for the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries. Later, he worked as a consultant to the FAA for safety and health issues at ground installations in the New England area.

Peter and his family spent every summer cruising the coast of Maine on their Hinckley sailboats, first WOODWIND, and later a Sou’wester 42, PEMAQUID. He was an active member of the Corinthian Yacht Club for 50 years and The Down East Yacht Club when sailing in Maine. He enjoyed lobstering and hanging out in Doliber Cove, his back yard.

He and Penny traveled to all 50 states and spent time traveling the world over and over from Bali to Alaska - they saw it all. It has been quite a ride for this amazing, kind, and generous man. His sense of humor, his wit, his smile, his glorious blue eyes, and his wonderful disposition will be missed by so many. Marblehead was his favorite place on earth, it is where he met the love of his life at the Landing Pub in 1972. When referring to his wife Penny, he said - “She was a perfect choice. Well…… almost perfect. She loved Marblehead at first sight; she loved boating; she loved the Corinthian Yacht Club; and I am pretty sure she loved me.”

Celebration of his life and a military burial will be held in his backyard/Brown’s Island this summer. Donations can be made to Care Dimensions in honor of Peter Blaisdell: 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.