Robert Newton Peck

Robert Newton Peck (February 17, 1928 – June 23, 2020) was an American author who wrote young adult novels. His works include Soup and A Day No Pigs Would Die.

Robert Newton Peck
BornRobert Newton Peck
(1928-02-17)February 17, 1928
Ludlow, Vermont, U.S.
DiedJune 23, 2020(2020-06-23) (aged 92)
Longwood, Florida, U.S.
OccupationWriter
NationalityAmerican
Period20th century
GenreYoung adult literature

Early life

Peck claimed his birth date to have been February 17, 1928, but refused to specify his birthplace. It is believed to be Ticonderoga, New York, where he spent his early years with his mother, Lucille Dornburgh Peck, and aunt Caroline Dornburgh.[1][2]

He attended Ticonderoga High School. His only verified Vermont connection, which Peck hinted as his real birthplace, comes from his father, who was born in Sunderland, Vermont.

Peck served in World War II as a machine-gunner in the U.S. Army 88th Infantry Division. After he returned to the United States, Peck entered Rollins College, graduating in 1953. He then entered Cornell Law School, but failed to complete his studies.

Writing

Peck published his first novel, A Day No Pigs Would Die, which was a semi-autobiography of his childhood, in 1972 at the age of forty-four. To date, his credits include sixty-five titles, six nonfiction works, thirty-five songs, three television specials and over one hundred poems.

Personal life

He married Dorothy Anne Houston and fathered two children: Anne who was born in 1971 and Christopher who was born in 1968. Christopher passed away July 31, 2011 at the age of 43. [3] The best man at the wedding, and the godfather to the children, was Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame. [4]

Robert and Dorothy divorced at some point, and both remarried; Robert's second wife's name is Sam.[5]

In 1984, Peck was sued by Mary Jo Wardlaw, an Erskine College student, for outrageous conduct causing severe emotional distress and slander, for comments he made during a convocation speech at the college (318 S.E.2d 284, S.C.App., 1984). A South Carolina appeals court upheld a $24,000 jury verdict against Peck for slander on the theory that when Peck cast aspersions upon Wardlaw's chastity, his public remarks were slanderous per se.[6]

In 1993, Peck was diagnosed with oral cancer, but overcame the disease. He lived with his wife in Longwood, Florida, passing away there in 2020.[7][8]

References
  1. "Robert N Peck in household of Caroline Dornburgh", United States Census, 1930; Ticonderoga, Essex, New York; roll T626 1438, page 6A, line 24, enumeration district 29, Family History film 2341173. Retrieved on February 20, 2018.
  2. "Robert N Peck in household of Caroline Dornburgh", United States Census, 1940; Ticonderoga, Essex, New York; roll T627 2533, page 5A, line 1, enumeration district 16–33. Retrieved on February 20, 2018.
  3. obituary, located at http://baldwin.tributes.com/obituary/print/92055061
  4. See information provided by Mr. Peck himself at http://www.blahnik.info/rnpeck/about.htm
  5. see his son's obituary, located at http://baldwin.tributes.com/obituary/print/92055061
  6. Court of Appeals of South Carolina (May 25, 1984). "Wardlaw v. Peck, 318 S.E.2d 270 (S.C. Ct. App. 1984)". Court Listener. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  7. Archived November 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Fraser, Trevor (July 4, 2020). "Author Robert Newton Peck, 92, dies in Longwood". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
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