Peter Hemington Kemp Sr. – Champion
Peter Hemington Kemp Sr., 87, passed away Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, at home near Seven Springs in Champion, Pa., after complications due to pneumonia. He lived more years than expected, given his first heart attack occurred when he was 37 years old. Part of this reason is his unconditional love for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which was encouraged and facilitated by his second wife, Jane. He was a great support to his family at the end and that will never be forgotten. He was born Oct. 13, 1934, to Carol Virginia Hemington and Edward Locke Kemp Sr. in Pittsburgh. The family lived in McKeesport’s 10th Ward and later moved to West Mifflin into a house still owned by the family. Peter graduated in 1952 from McKeesport Sr. High School, then majored in mathematics at Bethany College. He loved his college experience and still claims they were the best years of his life. He married his college sweetheart, Barbara “Bobbi” Mullaney in 1957, upon her graduation from Bethany. He maintained lifelong friendships with several of his fraternity brothers from Beta Theta Pi. He participated in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and after graduation, attended Officer Candidate School. He entered the U.S. Navy in December 1956. He achieved the rank of lieutenant junior grade on the USS Holder and recently enjoyed reconnecting with former shipmates at various Holder reunions. After his naval service, he worked as an engineer at Honeywell in Philadelphia, where his first two children were born. He moved back to McKeesport in 1964 to join his brother and father in the family HVAC business, E. L. Kemp Co. He purchased a house in White Oak and took his young family to live there upon the birth of his youngest son in 1965. He participated in multiple organizations, including the Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, Masons, and served on the board of directors of the McKeesport YMCA, McKeesport Salvation Army and Butler’s Golf Course. He was the president of the McKeesport Area School Board during the late 1960s and was instrumental in developing the plan for desegregation, which included the creation of an inner-city Model School, where his wife taught and his children attended elementary school. An avid Steelers fan, he has held season tickets since 1964 and the family still holds them today. After being predeceased by his first wife, Bobbi, in 2003, he met and married Jane Dively in 2011, who is affectionately known as Great Jane by the great-grandchildren. They have spent their married life in residences outside Seven Springs and in Juno Beach, Fla. Peter spent the retired years of his life building onto his mountain house, then voraciously writing his memoirs and his philosophy of life, as well as researching the family’s ancestry. He was predeceased by his brother, Ted, three years ago; and is survived by his wife, Jane Dively of Champion; and sister, Carol Nill of White Oak. He is also survived by his three children, Virginia “Ginny” Kemp of Peterborough, N.H., Peter Jr., “Mike” (Lisa) of Greensburg and Wally (Lora) of Gilbert, S.C.; as well as his nine grandchildren, Jessica Piekielek (Dillon), Michael Piekielek, Kal Kemp, Evan Kemp, Lindsey Cattano (David), Brad Kemp, Jason Frank, Brandon Kemp and Jenna Kemp; and his great-grandchildren, Ella, Noah and Scarlett. Visitation hours will be held at MARK C. BROOKS FUNERAL HOME in Melcroft from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, with a memorial service held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 3, with visitation offered one hour prior. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh (https://www.adrc.pitt.edu/volunteer/donate/). Peter participated in their memory studies from 1988 through the time of his death. To send a message or leave condolences please visit our website at www.brooksfhmelcroft.com.
