Obituary for Peter R Renzi
Peter Rocco Renzi, a son of Greenbelt, died peacefully Monday, April. 25, of complications from muscular dystrophy at his home in University Park. He was 39 years old.
Peter, known as “Petey” by those closest to him, spent his early years in Greenbelt, growing up in a GHI home in 34 Court, Ridge Road with his mom, Marie, and sisters Nicole and Mary. He was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the age of five. He was in a wheelchair at nine years old. That is where the projection of the disease and his life diverged.
The family had been told that he would be in a wheelchair by eight and dead by his early 20’s. He outlasted all the odds. As he would later write in a song: “Doctors seem to know everything, but I’m still alive.”
Petey had a special relationship with the local firefighters, who took him under their wing and invited him to their fundraising softball tournament as the MDA Goodwill Ambassador.
He attended MDA Summer Camp year after year where he enjoyed the dances, talent night and just goofing off with his cabin mates and camp counselors.
At an early age, influenced by his older sisters and their friends, especially Jenny, Sara and Lisa Meetre, he developed a passion for hardcore and punk music that stayed with him throughout his life. His friendships from an early age also lasted a lifetime, including fellow Greenbelt native Nick Gervasi, Jason Peltz, Eugene Askew and Raf Leyva. He was the best man at two weddings, where he delivered moving and amusing toasts, and at one point was engaged to be married himself.
He graduated from high school in 2000 and went on to college at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, in North Carolina, until health issues brought him home to stay in his junior year.
Petey was a poet, songwriter and singer. He slammed poetry at many an open mic in the area and, under the direction of Greenbelt local legend, Chris Colvin, his band performed at several venues.
As the years passed, his creative pursuits expanded. He wrote and recorded songs, some of which he performed in a garage band. He developed a taste for horror films and his musical tastes expanded to include, among other things, video game soundtracks. In the last year or so of his life, Petey amassed an impressive collection of both record albums and movies, and a state-of-the-art record player.
Petey had amazing caregiver friends in his early years, including Jean Hastings, Sara Meetre, and Steve Kelly. In these last few years he was very attached to his friends and nurses, including Isaiah Bolarinwa, Patience Akere, Pearly Brewster, and Adams Allo.
The fullness of his life is perhaps best illustrated by Petey’s last weekend in this world. His friend Raf, spent the weekend and the two of them, together with his old friend Eugene, stayed up late to play video games. On Sunday night, he went out to dinner with his parents and his sister Nicole and her family at one of his favorite restaurants, Franklin’s Brewery, in Hyattsville.
Back at home that night, he watched an episode of The Walking Dead with his stepfather, a near-nightly passion for the two of them, and then, on his own, a Twitch player he admired. It was a great end to a great weekend and a ‘so-Petey’ end to a great life.
Petey is survived by his mother, Marie Hite Pichaske, father, Peter Joseph Renzi, sister Nicole Renzi Roder, stepfather, Pete Pichaske, and stepsister, Lindsay Pichaske. He is also survived by nieces and nephews Emma, Sophia, Raymond and Gianni Roder and Max and Hannah Wilson, and numerous aunts and uncles.
Peter, known as “Petey” by those closest to him, spent his early years in Greenbelt, growing up in a GHI home in 34 Court, Ridge Road with his mom, Marie, and sisters Nicole and Mary. He was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the age of five. He was in a wheelchair at nine years old. That is where the projection of the disease and his life diverged.
The family had been told that he would be in a wheelchair by eight and dead by his early 20’s. He outlasted all the odds. As he would later write in a song: “Doctors seem to know everything, but I’m still alive.”
Petey had a special relationship with the local firefighters, who took him under their wing and invited him to their fundraising softball tournament as the MDA Goodwill Ambassador.
He attended MDA Summer Camp year after year where he enjoyed the dances, talent night and just goofing off with his cabin mates and camp counselors.
At an early age, influenced by his older sisters and their friends, especially Jenny, Sara and Lisa Meetre, he developed a passion for hardcore and punk music that stayed with him throughout his life. His friendships from an early age also lasted a lifetime, including fellow Greenbelt native Nick Gervasi, Jason Peltz, Eugene Askew and Raf Leyva. He was the best man at two weddings, where he delivered moving and amusing toasts, and at one point was engaged to be married himself.
He graduated from high school in 2000 and went on to college at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, in North Carolina, until health issues brought him home to stay in his junior year.
Petey was a poet, songwriter and singer. He slammed poetry at many an open mic in the area and, under the direction of Greenbelt local legend, Chris Colvin, his band performed at several venues.
As the years passed, his creative pursuits expanded. He wrote and recorded songs, some of which he performed in a garage band. He developed a taste for horror films and his musical tastes expanded to include, among other things, video game soundtracks. In the last year or so of his life, Petey amassed an impressive collection of both record albums and movies, and a state-of-the-art record player.
Petey had amazing caregiver friends in his early years, including Jean Hastings, Sara Meetre, and Steve Kelly. In these last few years he was very attached to his friends and nurses, including Isaiah Bolarinwa, Patience Akere, Pearly Brewster, and Adams Allo.
The fullness of his life is perhaps best illustrated by Petey’s last weekend in this world. His friend Raf, spent the weekend and the two of them, together with his old friend Eugene, stayed up late to play video games. On Sunday night, he went out to dinner with his parents and his sister Nicole and her family at one of his favorite restaurants, Franklin’s Brewery, in Hyattsville.
Back at home that night, he watched an episode of The Walking Dead with his stepfather, a near-nightly passion for the two of them, and then, on his own, a Twitch player he admired. It was a great end to a great weekend and a ‘so-Petey’ end to a great life.
Petey is survived by his mother, Marie Hite Pichaske, father, Peter Joseph Renzi, sister Nicole Renzi Roder, stepfather, Pete Pichaske, and stepsister, Lindsay Pichaske. He is also survived by nieces and nephews Emma, Sophia, Raymond and Gianni Roder and Max and Hannah Wilson, and numerous aunts and uncles.