Peter Campbell Southard
Died June 11, 2005
Peter Campbell Southard was born November 30, 1943 in Columbus, OH. At Yale Pete was an active member of Silliman playing on various intramural teams. He was the varsity tennis and squash manager and active in the Political Union and the Yale Republican Club.
After graduation, Pete earned his law degree from Boston University School of Law and served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He married Diana in 1971, and they had two children, Penny Lynn and Theresa Danielle.
Pete made his career in Columbus working in the Trust Department at Bank One until he retired.
In 1985, Pete suffered a stroke which left him incapacitated. During 20 years of care given by his wife Diana, Pete was from time-to-time admitted to Columbus area nursing homes for short-term care. The nursing home to which he was admitted in 2005 did not adequately monitor his care and Pete died of dehydration on June 11, 2005.
His gravestone reads simply: “ Peter C. Southard, U.S. Navy, Vietnam, 1943-2005.”
James Butler remembers:
Pete was a fine organizer and true source of good humor to all of us in Club ’05-06.
Jeffrey Jennings remembers:
Pete – founding member of Bird & Bun and a beloved unindicted co-conspirator.
Carroll Taylor remembers:
Peter was more than a four year roommate, he became a friend of my family’s and a groomsman at my 1968 wedding to Nancy. Nancy was touched before our wedding when she and Peter were together in my parent’s home and he turned off whatever sports event was on television to talk to her about the dynamics and personalities in my family (nothing extreme but very helpful to her in fitting in).
Peter suffered a brain aneurysm that put him in a coma for months. His wonderful wife Diana did not want him in an institutional setting. So she set up a bedroom at home and was his primary caregiver. The story is that his two girls were arguing about something within hearing distance of Peter, whereupon he came out of his coma and instructed “Listen to your Mother.” He lived a number of years thereafter, unemployable because of brain damage, but cheerful and optimistic.
He was a good friend and remains so in our memory.