WILMINGTON- Peter B. Gore, 85, died at his home Thursday, August 9. He was born in Amherst, MA, on January 29, 1927, the son of the late Harold M. “Kid” Gore, former athletic director at UMass, Amherst, and his wife Jane (Pollard) Gore.

Mr. Gore attended Smith College Day School and was educated in Amherst schools and at Deerfield Academy. He received his bachelor’s degree from Marlboro College in the college’s first graduating class, often recalling Robert Frost presenting the commencement address. He served his country as a member of the US Navy in World War II. Mr. Gore received his master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts and further studied at Laval University, Canada, and Grenoble University in France. He taught French and coached athletics at Deerfield Academy for 23 years. Upon returning to Vermont, he taught at Wilmington High School, worked at Greene’s Service Center, was a rural mail carrier, then a clerk at the Wilmington office of the United States Postal Service, retiring from there in 1993.

Mr. Gore established and operated the Wilmington Antique & Flea Market Inc. He felt deep satisfaction in maintaining the flea market property over the past 30 years. His summers were spent growing up at Camp Najerog on Lake Raponda, established by his parents in 1924. He was a camper, camp counselor, ran the water skiing program, and was an assistant camp director.

Mr. Gore was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. He enjoyed traveling and the outdoors, listening to all types of music, collecting coins and stamps, and was a member of the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association and the Vermont Old Cemetery Association. During the past several years he enjoyed spending winters in Fort Myers, FL, biking, walking, and attending Boston Red Sox spring training.

Mr. Gore is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sally Lukow, formerly of Greenfield, MA; his children, Candace Bittner, husband Brian, and daughter Abigail, of Glen Allen, VA; Timothy Gore and his son Luke, of Lenox, MA; and Linda Gavin, husband Daniel and their daughters, Casey and Erika, of Turners Falls, MA. He took great pride in his grandchildren and enjoyed their summer visits to Lake Raponda as well as cheering them on at their various sporting events. He also leaves four nephews, Christopher Gore, of Gunnison, CO, Geoffrey Gore, of Bennington, Barry Gore, of Dexter, MI, and Mark Everett, of Los Angeles, CA.

He was predeceased by a brother, Harold M. “Bob” Gore Jr., sister Nancy Everett, niece Elizabeth Everett Thompson, and niece Jennifer Gore Lewis (who died on 9/11 at the Pentagon).

Mr. Gore will be cremated and buried in the family cemetery on Ballou Hill Road.

A private service will be held at a later date. Wilmington and the Deerfield Valley resonate within Mr. Gore’s spirit. Those wishing to contribute in Mr. Gore’s memory may send gifts to Deerfield Valley Community Cares, PO Box 5, Wilmington, VT, 05363. To send personal email condolences to the family visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.