Peter B. Sack

Peter was born in Lynn, MA, in 1945, son of Louis and Florence Sack. He is survived by his two former wives with whom he remained close friends, Leslie Rooks Sack and Rochelle Friedman; his sister, Marilyn Winick and her husband Richard Winick; his sons David and Jonathan and their wives Leslie and Ivy; his grandchildren, Samantha, Theodore, Benjamin, Hannah and Lincoln; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Peter grew up in Swampscott, graduated from Swampscott High School in 1963, from Bowdoin College in 1967 with combined honors in French and Spanish literature, and went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Tufts University. While earning his graduate degree he served in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he was stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky.

His career in education began in 1969 at his beloved alma mater, Swampscott High School, as a part-time teacher of Spanish and French. He soon became a full-time teacher, went on to pioneer the school’s open campus program, become assistant principal, and then served as principal of Swampscott High School from 1983-2003. With an undimmed energy and enthusiasm for education that kept him from full retirement, he went on to serve as interim principal of Manchester Essex Regional High School from 2003-2006.

Peter earned a local, state and national reputation for excellence in education. He served as president of the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association and on the boards of directors of the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. He was recognized as the Massachusetts Principal of the Year in 1996, and received countless awards and recognitions for his dedicated service to generations of students, educators and families in Swampscott.

Peter was known as the “Voice of the Big Blue,” and he joyfully announced every Swampscott High School football home game from the press box at the former Blocksidge Field for decades. He had numerous passionate interests outside of education including the Boston Red Sox, sailing, science fiction movies, washing cars and politics.

Above all, Peter was dedicated and devoted to his family. Family vacations across the country, night games at Fenway Park, small excursions on the sailboat 50/50, and endless games of catch with his sons in the field behind their family home in Marblehead balanced the responsibilities and demands of his professional life with the joy and serenity of family life.

After retiring, Peter found a new love and built a new home and community in South Carolina.

Peter will be remembered for his love of and dedication to family, his tireless work ethic and the responsible leadership he provided to Swampscott High School, his sharp intellect and boundless compassion. He passed peacefully surrounded by family. May his memory be a blessing.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 15th at 10:00 am at Temple Emanu-El, 393 Atlantic Avenue in Marblehead, interment will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery, Peabody, MA. Due to the pandemic the shiva will be private.

Friends from afar can view the service via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EmanuEl.Marblehead.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.