Obituary of Peter Vairo

The world lost an indomitable and shining star on September 16th. Peter Edward Vairo, 62, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and Forest Hills, New York passed away on September 16th after a short illness. 

Peter was born to parents Dr. George G. Vairo and Edna Jean Kenney and raised in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. He studied at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Forest Hills, New York, New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire, received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida and his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. 

Peter served as the Vice President and Managing Agent of Auswin Realty Corporation, a commercial and residential real estate business started by his grandfather. Peter was proud of the legacy left behind by his grandfather and passionate about tending to the needs of the family business. 

Peter spent the bulk of his legal career as a trial attorney for CNA Insurance. Peter retired in 2014 after having a mitral valve repair on his heart. He decided it was time for him to change his focus from spending long hours at the office to spending every hour fully enjoying and living life -- and he did just that.

More than anything, Peter enjoyed living each day to the fullest. After moving to South Carolina in 2014, he spent each morning, on his dock, watching the sunrise -- with a cup of coffee and his beloved dogs. He was an avid biker, kayaker, gardener, and most recently a kick-ass softball player. Peter filled each moment of each day with an activity and never stopped moving until well after the Sun went down. 

Peter’s friends, family and loved ones describe him as “larger than life.” He was a force of nature. He had more energy each day than most people have in a lifetime. His vibrance, vitality and passion for life was contagious. He was the kindest, most generous person you could ever meet, with the largest heart, and he loved everyone with his whole heart. He was the most reliable friend and would lend a helping hand to anyone in need, whether it be a friend or stranger. He was a true Southern Gentleman with a never-eradicated New York accent.

He loved to travel and was fortunate to have been able to travel all over the world with his wife and family and go on various biking and kayaking trips with his friends. Peter proudly showed his cherished daughters the world. For each of their high school graduations, Peter took his girls individually on a “Daddy Daughter” trip to the European destination of their choosing – with incredible excursions and flying first class, of course. He instilled this love of adventure in Logan, Nicolette and Emilie.

Peter was actively involved in every neighborhood he lived in. In Forest Hills, he was the beloved two-term president of the Forest Hills Men’s Club and Chairman of the Board. If you ever attended one of the Men’s Club parties with Peter, you know he was the absolute life of that party and the heart of that dance floor. He loved to share his passion for health and fitness with others and founded the “Team Pedro” bicycle club in Forest Hills. He was a 3rd degree member of the Juniper Valley Council of the Knights of Columbus. 

Peter also served on many committees in his beloved neighborhood of Sea Pines in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He volunteered with Bike Ambassadors and loved assisting tourists by showing them around Hilton Head on bicycle. He spent many hours at the Heritage Farm in Sea Pines growing glorious vegetables and loofahs that he would share with his family, friends, and visitors to the farm. While there he also enjoyed listening to the peaceful sounds of the birds, socializing and assisting other farmers with tilling and watering their plots. He volunteered with the Sea Pines Forest Preserve and Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. Peter was a proud member of the organization 100 Men Who Care. Any opportunity he was given, Peter gave back to the community. He even gave himself, in the form of regular blood and plasma donations.  

Peter loved spending time outdoors and the only time he watched television was at the very end of the night when he would enjoy an episode of “Columbo” with his wife of 32 years, his sweetie, Felicia.

Peter was a superstar of a human who shined so brightly in everyone’s life who he met. Everyone who was lucky enough to meet will hold on to a spark of his brilliance. 

Peter was a loving, passionate, and devoted husband of 32 years to his wife Felicia, the absolute greatest father to his three darling daughters, Logan, Nicolette, and Emilie, the best damn dog dad to his beloved dogs, Penny, Sandy, Loki, Frodo, and Rose, and a loving brother to his siblings Georgene, George Jr, Kenney, Robert, and Edward. 

He will be so sorely missed by so many in various communities around Hilton Head, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and beyond. 

His family hopes that in his memory and honor, people will continue to live life like Peter. Live brilliantly and don’t hesitate to live a life full of passion. Live in the present moment. Be joyful. Love with a full and generous heart. Spend time with your loved ones. Donate your time and resources to someone in need. Donate funds to someone with less than you. Spend time in nature. Go for a walk on the beach. Do something physical. Ride a bicycle. Go for a kayak paddle. Play softball. Go for a swim. Get your heart rate up since Peter can’t anymore. If you knew him, you know that’s what he would want. 

Do you think you’re ever gonna meet a better guy than Peter Vairo? Fuhgeddaboudit!!!

In lieu of flowers, all donations can be made to NAMI Lowcountry at the following link:

https://www.namiwalks.org/participant/EmilyVairo.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Hilton Head, South Carolina on Saturday, September 25th from 1-4 PM at Baynard Park. 

39 Baynard Park Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 9:30 am at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs

110-06 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, NY 11375

A Celebration of Life will be held in Forest Hills, New York at the West Side Tennis Club on Sunday, October 3rd from 1-4 PM.

1 Tennis Pl, Forest Hills, NY 11375