Peter Montpelier

FORT MYERS, FLA. — Peter Montpelier, 75, a prominent Maine banker and native of Norway, died Wednesday, July 2, 2014, in Fort Myers, Florida.

Peter was born on Oct. 15, 1938, in Norway, to Camille and Alice Montpelier. His mother Alice was also a banker and well-known in the community, and she served for many years as an officer of Norway National Bank. Peter grew up in Norway with his brothers, and was educated in the Norway schools. He graduated from Bliss Business College in Auburn. He served in the U.S. Air Forces SAC command, and was stationed at bases in the U.S. and in Marrakesh, Morocco. During his banking career he attended numerous seminars and advanced training courses sponsored by the banking industry.

Peter’s banking career started at the teller’s window of Norway Savings Bank in April of 1965. Early in his employment at Norway Savings Bank he was named the manager of the bank’s first branch office located in Bridgton. He became the treasurer of the bank in 1976, and succeeded G. Freeman Hall as the bank’s 14th President in 1978, the youngest to serve as president of the bank at the age of 40. Under his leadership, in his first ten years the bank expanded by opening branch offices in Fryeburg, Naples, South Paris and Windham, and a broad expansion of the bank’s landmark home offices on Main Street in Norway, which was completed in 1988. Peter retired as president and CEO of the Norway Savings Bank on Dec. 31, 2000, after 22 years in this role. He stayed on as the chairman of the Board of Directors for an additional five years. At the time of his retirement from the board, the bank was one of the largest Mutual Savings Banks in Northern New England with 10 branches.

Peter served his hometown as a selectman for nine years. He also served in various capacities for the Oxford Hills Area Development Corporation, Norway Revitalization Committee and the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce. He was the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway, chairman of the Savings Bank Association of Maine, and served on the Executive Committee of the State Association of Mutual Savings Banks.

Peter married Elaine Richard, of South Paris, on April 20, 1960, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Norway. They had three children, Shelly Shibles, Pam Montpelier and Richard Montpelier. Through the years Peter always looked forward to the month of March when he enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren watching the Red Sox play baseball at spring training in Fort Myers, Fla.

Peter is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elaine; his daughters Shelly and husband Brian of Waterford, Pam Montpelier of Fort Myers, Fla., and son Richard and wife Elizabeth of Washington, D.C.; and his grandchildren, Eric Mozynski, Matthew Mozynski, Kimberly Montpelier, Bret Stuart, Ryan Stuart, Caitin Shibles and Amy Brodis. He was predeceased by his parents and brothers George and Lewis.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, July 31, at the Chandler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 45 Main Street, South Paris. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 1, at the The First Congregational Church in South Paris, with Rev. Don Mayberry officiating.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers and in honor of Peter Montpelier, that you consider a donation made to the Alzheimers Association, www.alz.org/join_the_cause_tributes.asp, or to the Stephens Memorial Hospital, wmhcc.org, in Norway. Condolences can be expressed at www.chandlerfunerals.com