Peter Gray O'Connell

SANDWICH - Peter Gray O'Connell, 25, a lifelong resident of Sandwich and 2009 graduate of Sandwich High School, died unexpectedly on Thursday, March 24. Pete grew up on Cape Cod and attended Cape Cod Community College. He was known for his kind hearted spirit, gentleness and love of the outdoors. He battled the disease of addiction for more than eight years before succumbing to it.

He was the son of Dianne Lynn Gray O'Connell of Sandwich and Jeffrey David O'Connell of Austin, TX. He is survived by his brother, Christopher "Kit" Robert O'Connell of Park City, UT and his grandfather, Robert Wayne Gray of Yarmouth Port; and grandmother, Vicki Terry of Newport News, VA, aunts Joyce Maguire and Karen Gray-Plaisted and uncles John Maguire, Todd Plaisted, Timothy O'Connell and Stephen O'Connell. Peter is also survived by cousins Sean Maguire, Riley and Haley Plaistead, Rebecca, Isabelle and Ethan O'Connell and Andrew, Patrick and Katie O'Connell and step-brother, Jasen Adkins. He is predeceased by his grandmother Ruth Marie Gray and his cousin John Maguire.

Pete was known for his love of biking, snowboarding, boating, the beach, sketching, fishing, cooking and camping. Pete was a cub scout. He loved playing the drums and was a member of the SHS band. He enjoyed sports. He attended First Church of Christ in Sandwich.

Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 154 Route 6A, Sandwich. Funeral services will be Friday, April 1 at 11 a.m. at the First Church of Christ, 136 Main Street, Sandwich, MA.

Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the "Pete O'Connell Fund" care of the Sandwich Recreation Department, Sandwich Town Hall, 130 Main Street, Sandwich, MA 02563, to aid in building a new bike and skate park for the community. Pete spent many happy hours biking at the former park and would have loved other children to have that opportunity.