Peter G. Mirick

WEST BOYLSTON / WEST BARNSTABLE - Peter G. Mirick, 62, of West Barnstable and formerly of West Boylston, died peacefully on Monday, December 19, 2016 at Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, following a short battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family. Peter realized his dream of relocating to the Cape, recently purchasing his dream home in West Barnstable. Peter was born in Worcester, lived in Athol as a child, and spent several years in North Carolina, before returning to the Wachusett area. He graduated from Wachusett Regional High School, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY and earned his Master's Degree in Biology from Worcester State University. A very special place for Peter was visiting his family’s cabin in the woods of the Catskills in New York, a place that was full of a lifetime of memories. He was always on the hunt for forest treasures, especially the simple act of collecting fallen feathers that most people would just ignore. Peter also spent many happy summers growing up, at the Mirick family home, on Mirick Road, in Princeton. For Peter Mirick, the foundation for a lifelong love of wildlife and the outdoors was laid early. Even as a young boy, Peter found that chasing frogs and snakes was his favorite kind of entertainment. A nationally respected biologist and writer, Peter worked for many years for the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He was best known as the longest tenured Editor of Mass Wildlife Magazine. For three decades, he taught thousands of sportsmen and naturalists about our state’s natural heritage and how to best enjoy it. The much-beloved local boy came a long way since being chosen editor of his college newspaper and literary magazine. His retirement this past year was regrettable for all who followed him – and not just because of his exceptional editorial and writing skills. Those who know him best will tell you of his class, scholarship, brilliance, and lack of hubris. Peter was a gentleman and one-of-a-kind warrior for wildlife. He knew what was right – and wasn’t afraid to tell those who mattered when political cautiousness fell short of supporting the cause. Peter invested his heart in his work. He believed the effort to save our wildlife is a battle – a never-ending war, really, that can easily be lost in the future – and very likely will - if our citizens don’t also possess that love, respect, and appreciation. In word and deed, he fought for wildlife, wild land, and their increasingly desperate needs. Recipient of numerous awards on ethics and writing, Peter was very proud of authoring with Scott Jackson A Guide to the Snakes of Massachusetts and editing the Field Guide to the Amphibians of Massachusetts. Just this year, he was lead author with Dr. Tom French, Jacob Kubel, and wildlife photographer Bill Byrne, of the monumental Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Massachusetts, which is a fitting tribute to his greatness. He leaves his wife, Madeleine A. (LoConto-Gentile) Mirick; his two children, Carly Ann Hovagimian and her husband, Daniel of North Brookfield, and Chase A. Mirick of West Boylston; his mother, Margaret “Peggy” A. (Scholar) Mirick of Holden; his sister, Kathy A. Mirick of Rutland; his two grandchildren, Derek and Morgan Mae Mirick; his two nephews and his niece, Alexander and Samuel Kowaleski and Marina Kowaleski; his wife’s two children, Kristin E. Gentile of Venice, CA and Michael J. Gentile III of Worcester; many friends, cherished aunt and cousins in New York and Maine, and his beloved bird-dog, Champ. He was predeceased by his father, Albert H. Mirick II. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Peter’s family on Saturday, January 7, from 1-3 p.m. at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A memorial service honoring and celebrating Peter’s life will then follow at 3 p.m. Peter’s family would like to thank the doctors and staff at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, and Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, as well as the Cape Cod VNA and Hospice Program. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dept of Head and Neck Oncology ( www.dana-farber.org/gift ), P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284, or the Nature Conservancy ( www.nature.org ), Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA. To share a memory or leave an online condolence for the family, please "sign the guest book" on this page.