Peter Kendall Chamberlin (Pete), 84, of Beech Mountain, North Carolina, passed away surrounded by his five daughters on March 27, 2024.

As one of Pete's closest friends told his daughters of their father, "There ain't but one!", so trying to fit a life lived as well and as large as Pete Chamberlin's into a container is impossible. The following is a mere attempt to share some of the highlights of this legendary man.

Pete was born in Syracuse, New York, on May 31, 1939, to Ann Forsyth Cleghorn and Edwin Sanderson Chamberlin and raised in Dewitt, New York, with his three younger siblings Carol, Jim, and Ann. His family spent summers on Lake George, New York, where he taught the younger kids in his generation and following generations how to swim, water ski, and navigate the lake in a motorboat or a sailboat.

One summer in the late 1950s, Pete met Cynthia (Sandy) Turnbull when she admired a repair he did on her boat. They enjoyed boating, dancing, and their five daughters: Carolyn Moore (Gary), Katie Bruening (Glen), Kimberly Sanderspree (Scott) all of Lake George, and Kristin Chamberlin-Long (Dave) and Cindy Myers (Eric) of Johnson City, Tennessee, as well as ten grandchildren: Kendall Moore, Katie Moore, Chaskin Saroff, Dylan Bruening, Hahnah Fetterman, Sanderson Saroff, Sage Sanderspree, Caroline Myers, Carson Bruening, and Sarah Myers. He is also remembered as fun Uncle Peter by Leslie LeMense of Summerton, South Carolina, and Todd Chamberlin of Lake George, New York.

After graduating from Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts, in 1963, Pete began an award-winning sales career with Behr Manning (later Norton Company). In retirement, Pete moved fulltime to Beech Mountain, a magical place where he felt most at home. The members of Ski Patrol, Beech Mountain Fire Department, Beech Mountain Bourbon Society, and countless others were all part of his beloved extended family. Supporting the local community fed Pete's soul.

In mid-life, Pete met and married Shirley Everhart, a North Carolina native who shared his love of adventures and good friends. They enjoyed many years together on Beech Mountain until Shirley's passing five years ago. Pete was a father figure to Shirley's three children: Lisa, DL (Cheryl), and Henry, and loved the four Everhart grandchildren: David, Andrew, Dessie, and Reba.

Pete got lucky in love for a third time when he found Nancy Kennedy of Beech Mountain. They began dating in April 2020 during the pandemic quarantine and married in January 2021. Pete loved Nancy's children, Clark (Marcia), Denis (George) and David (Hannah), and quickly became Grampa Pete to Nancy's many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His heart of a servant and big curiosity resulted in Pete having many hobbies that he approached with a "go big or go home" attitude. He volunteered on the National Ski Patrol for 70 years and with the Beech Mountain Fire Department for 24 years, but helping people succeed was his real passion. Pete loved building the next generation of volunteers through mentorship and encouragement. He also enjoyed NASCAR as a fan and as a volunteer member of Bobby Allison's pit crew. Pete's appreciation of a journey as much as a destination took him all over the world to ski, research genealogy in courthouses and cemeteries, sail, visit beaches, cruise through the Panama Canal and Caribbean islands, experience other cultures, and explore the United States on road trips.

As the host with the most and a passion for cooking, grilling, smoking, roasting, and preparing food to share, Pete always had a stocked fridge and pantry, and a beverage to offer. Anyone lucky enough to visit on a weekend morning, would likely be offered bacon and a famous Pete popover with butter and jam.

He loved gathering around the side yard fireplace (built to replicate those provided on the Lake George picnic islands) for weekly cookouts with friends and neighbors. Pete never knew a stranger.

Pete and his family thank everyone for their love and friendship. A celebration of Pete's rich life will be hosted by the Town of Beech Mountain, the Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, and Fred's General Mercantile at 3PM on March 30, 2024, at the Buckeye Lake Recreation Center (1330 Pine Ridge Road, Beech Mountain, NC 28604).

Anyone wishing to honor Pete is encouraged to perform an act of service, make a monetary donation to the Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department (https://beechmountainvfd.org/about/donate/), or make a blood donation to a local American Red Cross.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.