The David J. Peltier Spring 2025

David J. Peltier devoted his life to the service of others, from his family to his colleagues and community. He was a builder and a problem solver who enjoyed working on complex problems, and more importantly, his goal was always to make sure those he was helping learned something in the process so that they’d acquire new skills. He passed away from pancreatic cancer in September 2020 at age 60 leaving behind his three sons, Daniel, Matthew and Christopher, and his wife of 35 years, Maryann, who all endlessly adored and respected him.

Dave studied HVAC at The Peterson School, and left behind a 27-year legacy at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center and Local 877, where he worked and eventually ran the HVAC Department. He was born in Boston and grew up in Newton and Waltham before moving to Billerica in 1985, where he would spend the rest of his life. He was happiest on Cape Cod, where he spent many summers with his family and in the final years of his life, owned a sailboat called the “Lucy Goose” named after the family’s yellow labrador, Lucy.

He had so many dreams and milestones that he didn’t see realized, like retirement and someday being a grandparent. One of the biggest dreams he had was encouraging more young people to enter the trades as he often said there was an increasing shortage of skilled labor. It’s his family’s hope that with this scholarship, more people will not only get the help they need to learn new skills, but follow in Dave’s memory of caring for the work they do and leaving something better than they found it. And hopefully, as scholarship recipients learn and grow, they’ll develop a desire to teach others their skills.
It is often said that when someone leaves this Earth, we remember most how they made us feel. Dave’s life touched so many people and we know his memory will continue to inspire others to work hard, learn and want to make their communities better.

This scholarship will be awarded to two Peterson School students who are currently enrolled in the Spring 2025 semester. Each $500 scholarship will be applied toward the tuition of a class and has no cash value.

Criteria:

• This scholarship is offered to a student studying any trade with the Peterson School.
• Applicants should write 200-300 words on what receiving this scholarship would mean to them and why they are passionate about pursuing a career in a particular trade.
• Deadline May 9, 2025.