Peter Montpelier's Obituary
Peter Montpelier, 75 years old, a prominent Maine banker and native of Norway, Maine died July 2, 2014 in Fort Myers, Florida.Peter was born on October 15, 1938 in Norway, Maine to Camille and Alice Montpelier. His mother Alice was also a banker and well-known in the community and served for many years as an officer of Norway National Bank. Peter grew up in Norway with his brothers and was educated in the Norway schools. He graduated from Norway High School in 1957. He then went on to attend Bliss Business College in Auburn, Maine. He served in the U.S. Air Force SAC Command and was stationed at bases in the U.S. and in Marrakesh, Morocco. During his banking career he attended numerous seminars and advance training courses sponsored by the banking industry.Peter’s banking career started at the teller’s window of Norway Savings Bank in April of 1965. Early in his employment at Norway Savings Bank he was named the manager of the bank’s first branch office located in Bridgton, Maine. He became Treasurer of the bank in 1976 and succeeded G. Freeman Hall as the bank’s 14th President in 1978 and was the youngest to serve as President of the bank at age 40. Under his leadership the bank expanded by opening branch offices in Fryburg, Naples, South Paris and Windham, Maine and a broad expansion of the bank’s landmark home offices on Main Street in Norway, Maine completed in 1988. Peter retired as President and CEO of the Norway Savings Bank on December 31, 2000 after 22 years in this role. He stayed on as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for an additional 5 years. At the time of his retirement from the board, the bank was one of the largest Mutual Savings Banks in Northern New England with 10 branches.Peter served his home town as a Selectman for nine years. He also served in various capacities for the Oxford Hills Area Development Corporation, Norway Revitalization Committee and the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce. He was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway, Maine, Chairman of the Savings Bank Association of Maine and served on the executive committee of the State Association of Mutual Savings Banks.Peter married Elaine Richard of South Paris, Maine on April 28, 1960 at Saint Catherine’s Catholic Church in Norway, Maine. They had three children, Shelly Shibles, Pam Montpelier and Richard Montpelier. Through the years Peter always looked forward to the month of March when he enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren watching the Red Sox play baseball at Spring Training in Fort Myers, Florida.Peter is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elaine. His daughters Shelly and husband Brian of Waterford, Maine, daughter Pam of Fort Myers, Florida, and son Richard and wife Elizabeth of Washington, D.C. His grandchildren Eric Mozynski, Matthew Mozynski, Kimberly Montpelier, Bret Stuart, Ryan Stuart, Caitin Shibles, and Amy Brodis. He was predeceased by his parents and brothers George and Lewis.The family requests in lieu of flowers and in honor of Peter Montpelier that you consider a donation made to the Alzheimers Association, http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_tributes.asp or the Stephens Memorial Hospital, http://wmhcc.org in Norway, Maine.A memorial service will be held at a later date in Norway, Maine.
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