LSC Maintenance Building Renamed to Honor Art Peake

Art Peake Served the Lyndon Community for 42 Years

December 8, 2015

LYNDON CTR., Vt. – The maintenance building on the campus of Lyndon State College will be named the Arthur W. Peake Maintenance Facility in memory of former Lyndon employee Art Peake. The motion was unanimously approved by the Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees.

“Naming a building after Art cannot begin to memorialize the impact he had on our physical campus and community,” said President Joe Bertolino, “however, it is one, powerful thing we can do to preserve and honor his memory.”

Art Peake knew every inch of the campus that is, and the buildings that were. Strong opinions, sound advice, and a wicked sense of humor lurked behind a quiet voice. Whether you saw him behind the wheel plowing, or passed him around campus, there was always a smile, with a wave or greeting.

Peake was the recipient of the 2012 Faculty and Staff Loyalty award, after more than four decades of service across all areas of campus. He served as the college’s maintenance foreman since 1991, and his ability to fix just about anything was legendary. Peake dedicated his life to Lyndon. He loved this community and in turn, all those who knew him loved him back.

Patty Cross, who worked with Peake, remarked “the college will never find a more dedicated individual. Where could you find someone who put his own time in to come fill our wood boiler over the weekend?” She added, “any time you had a problem, he would drop what he was doing and help. He put his life and soul into this place. His illness put him down, but he fought so hard to try to get back here. He will be missed more than words can say.”

A resident of the Northeast Kingdom, Peake passed away May 10, 2015 after a battle with cancer. Away from campus, he enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening, kayaking, hunting, and playing with his beagle, Abby.