Peter “Pete” Picciano

Peter A. Picciano, 66, born and raised in Endwell, New York, slipped away quietly on Sunday evening, June 2, 2024. Peter had a very difficult year battling brain cancer. He is now reunited with his dear parents, Frederick and Helen, and brother, John, along with a host of other relatives.
Peter will be deeply missed by his twin sister, Elaine (Mark), and siblings Lorette, Deacon Tom Picciano, Sister-in-law Julie, and five nieces and nephews/spouses: Andrew (Amy) Englert, Lars (Meridith) Hanson, Susan (Ben) DeCastro, Peter (Robyn) Englert, and Hannah (Cole) Brunson, as well as his delightful great nieces/nephews: Ella, Juliet, Ingrid, Hayley, Cali Sue, Ellis, Silvia, Lucy, and Charlie. He will also be greatly missed by all his cousins, dear friends, colleagues, students and Scouters.
What is the measure of a man?
Pete, Brillo, Magellan, Ranger Pete, Uncle Pete and Mr. Pete. More than a name, how one spends his time and treasure define the true measure of a man. The Sowing and Reaping Principle. Peter invested in people, forests, travel, education, the next generation and eternity.
Pete’s Cub Scout and Boy Scout experiences as a youngster, especially at Camp Tuscarora, nurtured these. So, Pete chose Syracuse University/EFS to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Forestry. While there he developed lifelong friendships, especially with a group of 14-15 classmates. These FOACA (Friends of A Certain Age) planned a yearly trip to hike and bike in the great outdoors. This fall they unanimously decided Magellan, his nickname from their first week together, would come. In spite of his walker, wheelchair and other Glioblastoma limitations, one of his treasured pals picked Pete up from his assisted living facility last October. They met the rest at the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania for a wonderful, last vacation.
Following graduation, Pete began his career with the US Forest Service in the Siskiyo National Forrest, Wedderburn, Oregon, fighting forest fires. They put Pete in charge of the saplings needed for reforestation after blazes devoured thousands of acres of trees. Somewhere in the Northwest, forests tower through the ashes. Pete’s 2022 Amtrak Trip provided the opportunity for him to reconnected with friends he made more there more than 4 decades ago. Last month, a fellow US Forest Service friend drove from Illinois to Endicott for Pete’s retirement party. More sowing and reaping.
Peter returned to New York to become the Boy Scout Ranger at his beloved Camp Tuscarora. He sowed into future generations by providing a positive camping experience. He encouraged the young scouts to “to do their best” to serve others and supported their efforts to earn badges and other achievements. He stood strong with those dedicated to pursuing the challenges of becoming an Eagle Scout. He continued to support these efforts even after career changes. He added volunteer time as Camp Master and Unit Commissioner until the pandemic occurred. His new assignment took him to the Wyoming Conference Children’s Home as a House Manager. He also provided youth respite care while working on his Master’s; in Special Education from Marywood University. Upon completion of his Master’s degree, Peter worked in a variety of substitute teaching positions until he joined the Broome-Tioga BOCES family in September 2004. Abundant sowing.
Peter loved working with students. He especially sowed into the students facing the biggest struggles and obstacles. He connected with them and helped them develop good study habits. After suffering a heart attack in 2013 following the death of his oldest brother, Peter became the star in cardiac rehab, lost 40 pounds, and developed a personal fitness program that is still used on the BOCES campus today. He modeled service to the community by participating in the Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus. Each July, he sowed practical life skills into the participants of the BOCES Summer Youth Employment Program. Their projects centered on campus beautification – Including planting trees. He invested endless time and energy to encourage both teachers and students to embrace the Broome-Tioga BOCES core values. In 2016, Pete’s dedication to excellence earned him the coveted Ron Dougherty Award, the highest award bestowed by the organization.
Peter loved God and expressed that through teaching youth Sunday School classes at his parish. He sowed seeds of faith that inspired them to love God through service to others. He served his church in many other ways. Even after he could no longer drive to church, Peter made every effort to find rides to church. Thank you to the kind souls who took him!
Peter tirelessly poured out physical care. He devoted over a year of exclusive assistance to his wheelchair-bound brother, John, while working full time at BOCES. He did this again when late-stage dementia stole so much from his mom and left her bed-bound. He often stayed the night and got up early the next morning to sow into the lives of his BOCES students.
There is no way to accurately measure the kindness and joy Peter quietly brought to so many people. His positivity, delightful sense of humor, twinkling eyes, and devious smirk endeared him to others – even in this past year when the “tumor was talking” louder than the Pete we all know. In return, Peter reaped love, support, and help just when it was needed. Time and time again, visitors mentioned, “Pete was there for me when…” The Ideal Senior Living staff worked tirelessly to assure Pete’s his retirement was celebrated. On May eighteenth, sixty plus friends from every decade of his life gathered on the facility’s patio and surrounded Pete with love. That is the measure of a man.
We are forever grateful to Ideal Senior Living Staff for making Pete’s last days so special.
Thank you also to the caring staff at Brookdale (Castle Gardens) and the Rehab Unit at Absolut.
Thank you to the University of Rochester, Wilmot Cancer Center, for the excellent medical care and support they provided through this journey. Special gratitude to Dr Schmidt, Nurse Alyssa, Jackie Behr and Dr Lauryn Hemminger. Thanks also to Lourdes Radio Oncology, Dr. Sethi, Dr. Deuel and Allie for their dedicated care.
This past year has been the greatest demonstration of sowing and reaping. So blessed by the multitude of friends that have stood by Peter and all of us throughout this difficult journey. What you sow is what you reap.
Dearest Pete, we will miss your kind nature, sparkling eyes, and impish grin, We love you forever. So grateful you are wrapped in the Lord’s tender care. Your life inspires us:
“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty and in another thirty.” Matthew 13: 23 (ESV)
A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, June 8th at 10 am at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, 594 Kent Street, Windsor, NY. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City on Monday, June 10th at 10 am. The Family will receive friends on Friday, June 7th from 4-6 pm at the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott.
A BOCES Scholarship Fund will be established so Mr. Pete’s Legacy can continue sowing into the next generation.
Sunset, the brilliance of a fading star, a reminder of how mortal we are. Each of us will experience the sunset of our life, in our own way. Some of us will set in magnificent glory, with clouds enhancing the beauty of our life. Others will set in the depths of despair with clouds covering the misery of our life. Far better off we would be, if we let the clouds enhance our beauty. For all life is beautiful, from birth, the sunrise the dawn of our life, to death the sunset, the dusk of our life. The beauty of our sunset is the hope of a new life, in the dawn of a new day that awaits us – eternity. – Peter A. Piccian

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