May 12 1977 October 9 2022 (age 45)
Obituary Peter “Pete” John Heinze passed away on October 9, 2022 at the age of 45 in his home in Lake Wylie, SC. Pete was born in Lansing, MI at a very young age and stayed that way. Much like his namesake Peter Pan, he was always young at heart and was never happier than when he was teaching and playing with his kids at camp. He graduated from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania and joined his first YMCA camp family at Camp Fitch in Erie, PA. He was the last of his immediate family members to fly south, but he finally found his new happy place at Camp Thunderbird in Lake Wylie, SC. Pete’s kind heart and love of camp radiated throughout his time at Camp Fitch, Camp Thunderbird, and a brief pandemic run at Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham. Pete had an ability to build relationships with everyone around with his contagious smile, and he loved to laugh, meaning campfires, programs, and even staff meetings had a special spin whenever he was running the show. Pete loved rock music and Star Wars. He played and watched a variety of sports, passionately following his Steelers, Penguins, and Nittany Lions. Alas, he just could not live with the thought of someone other than Coach K leading his beloved Duke Blue Devils on the basketball court. In addition to being an avid hiker and more at home in nature than indoors, Pete was an animal lover, especially of cats (including Pete the Cat). He begrudgingly accepted gifts of Peter Rabbit and Peter Cottontail books and toys. He never met a pizza he didn’t like and he lived for Taco Tuesdays. Despite his playful heart, Pete also had a quiet, serious side to him. He attended Carson Long Military Institute for high school, and was a proud member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, deployed to Germany during his service. Pete was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia “Pat” Louise (Wigren) Sessions, who is probably berating him in heaven for dropping in unannounced. He is survived by his father, Richard Ernst Heinze; “Proto-Pete” brother Christopher Richard Heinze, “Pre-Pete” sister Robin Virginia (Heinze) Johnson, and “Re-Pete” brother Jonathan Nathaniel Sessions; stepsiblings James, Laura, and Mark Passin, and two nephews Donovan and Joseph Heinze. He is also sorely missed by his “adopted” family members at both Camp Fitch and Camp Thunderbird. Plans for memorial services will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to YMCA Camp Thunderbird, 1 Thunderbird Ln., Lake Wylie, SC 29710 or YMCA of Greater Charlotte, 4625 Piedmont Row Dr., Charlotte, NC 28210 www.ymcacharlotte.org or to your favorite environmental charity. To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Peter Pete John Heinze May 12 1977 October 9 2022 (age 45).
Death notice for the town of: Clover, state: South Carolina