Peter Hemington Kemp

Peter Hemington Kemp, Sr., 87, passed away Monday, November 29, 2021 at home near 7-Springs in Champion, PA after complications due to pneumonia. He lived more years than expected, given his first heart attack occurred when he was 37 years old. Part of this reason is his unconditional love for his grandchildren and great grandchildren, which was encouraged and facilitated by his second wife, Jane. He was a great support to his family at the end, and that will never be forgotten. He was born October 13, 1934 to Carol Virginia Hemington and Edward Locke Kemp, Sr. in Pgh PA. The family lived in the tenth ward of McKeesport and later moved to West Mifflin to a house still owned by the family. Peter graduated in 1952 from McKeesport Sr. High School then majored in mathematics at Bethany College. He loved his college experience and still claims they were the best years of his life. He married his college sweetheart, Barbara Mullaney (Bobbi), in 1957 upon her graduation from Bethany. He’s maintained life-long friendships with several of his fraternity brothers from Beta Theta Pi. He participated in ROTC and after graduation, attended Officer Candidate School and entered the Navy in December 1956. He achieved the rank of LTJG on the USS Holder and recently enjoyed reconnecting with former shipmates at various Holder reunions. After naval service he worked as an engineer at Honeywell in Philadelphia where his first two children were born. He moved back to McKeesport in 1964 to join his brother and father in the family HVAC business, E. L. Kemp, Co. He purchased a house in White Oak and took his young family to live there upon the birth of his youngest son in 1965. He participated in multiple organizations: The Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, the Masons, he served on the board of directors of the McKeesport YMCA, the McKeesport Salvation Army, and Butler’s Golf Course. He was the president of the McKeesport Area School Board during the late 1960s and was instrumental in developing the plan for desegregation, which included the creation of an inner-city Model School, where his wife taught and his children attended elementary school. An avid Steeler fan, he held season tickets from 1964 and the family still holds them today. After being predeceased by his first wife, Bobbi, in 2003, he met and eventually married Jane Dively in 2011, who is affectionately known as Great Jane by the great grandchildren. They have spent their married life in residence outside 7-Springs and in Juno Beach, Fl. Peter spent the retired years of his life building onto his mountain house, and then voraciously writing his memoirs and his philosophy of life as well as researching the family’s ancestry. He was predeceased by his brother, Ted, three years ago, and is survived by his wife, Jane Dively (Champion) and sister, Carol Nill of White Oak. He is also survived by his three children, Virginia “Ginny” Kemp of Peterborough, NH, Peter Jr., “Mike” (Lisa) of Greensburg, PA, and Wally (Lora) of Gilbert, SC as well as his nine grandchildren: Jessica Piekielek (Dillon), Michael Piekielek, Kal Kemp, Evan Kemp, Lindsey Cattano (David), Brad Kemp, Jason Frank, Brandon Kemp, and Jenna Kemp and his great-grandchildren: Ella, Noah, and Scarlett. Visitation hours will be held at Mark C. Brooks Funeral Home in Melcroft, PA on Thursday, December from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 PM., with a Memorial Service held at the funeral home at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 3 with visitation offered one hour prior. Donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Univiversity of Pittsburgh (https://www.adrc.pitt.edu/volunteer/donate/). Peter participated in their memory studies from 1988 through the time of his death. To send a message or leave condolences please visit our website at www.brooksfhmelcroft.com

Peter Hemington Kemp

October 13, 1934 - November 29, 2021