Anita Williams Peck
Rosendale - Anita Williams Peck, Williams Lake, Rosendale, NY, died peacefully in her sleep on January 26, 2019 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie, after suffering a devastating stroke early last week.
Born Anita Elizabeth Williams on June 5, 1940 in Kingston, NY, she was the daughter of the late Walter G. and Marianne K. Williams. Anita, a graduate of Kingston High School in 1958, and the University of Vermont, she also attended Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
Anita was an incredibly successful businesswoman, who was passionate about her community, and extended genuine kindness and gracious hospitality to everyone she encountered.
Beginning in 1965, together with her parents, Anita operated the legendary Williams Lake Hotel, founded in 1929 by her grandfather, Gustave Williams, a Finnish immigrant. She took over management of the hotel in 1987, when her father died.
During her many years at Williams Lake Hotel, Anita and her family created countless memories for vacationing house guests, area beach club members and the community, while providing year-round employment for area residents, along with summer jobs for many young people.
Following the sale of the hotel to Hudson River Valley Resorts, LLC in 2006, Anita worked tirelessly in support of HRVR's plans to redevelop the iconic hotel into a world-class sustainable resort community. Like her father, she was a strong environmental steward, and in 1994 contributed over 400 acres of environmentally sensitive land to the Rondout-Esopus Land Conservancy Inc., to be preserved as "forever-wild" to benefit the community and protect wildlife habitat.
Anita served as a member and President of the Rondout Valley Central School Board, and was a member of the Ulster County School Board Association. She was also a board member of the Ulster Community College Foundation, where she recently completed her third term as Chair. Additionally, she endowed the Anita Williams Peck High School Public Speaking Contest, now in its 9th year at the college, and was an inaugural donor for The SUNY Ulster President's Challenge Scholarship, which helps Rondout Valley High School students be the first in their family to attend college.
Anita was known throughout Ulster County and the Hudson Valley for her countless hours of volunteerism for not-for-profit organizations, including the Benedictine Health Foundation, Junior League of Kingston, Zonta, Stone Ridge Nursery School, Stone Ridge Library, Rosendale Library , Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale Elementary School Christmas Project, Hudson Valley AIDS Auction, Boys and Girls Club of Kingston, Ulster County Historical Society, Children's Home, New Paltz, Rosendale, and Ulster County Chambers of Commerce, Esopus Chamber Orchestra, Friends of Historic Kingston, D&H Canal Museum and SKAL International Albany, the largest tour and travel organization in the world.
In 2007, Anita was recognized with the "Heart of Ulster County Award" for her significant contributions to Ulster County's economy. In 2013, she was the recipient of the "Sister Mary Charles Award" from the Benedictine Health Foundation in recognition of her service on the Foundation Board, and her support of the Rosemary D. Gruner Memorial Cancer Fund, the Bike for Cancer Care and the Fern Feldman Anolick Center for Breast Health. In 2016, she was honored by the Stone Ridge Library for her board service and support.
For the past 12 years, Anita was an owner of Hudson River Valley Tours, which provides tours through the region.
She was the former wife of Theodore G Peck, IV, and is survived by their son Theodore G. Peck V, and his wife Anna, Ulster Park; and their daughter, Jennifer L. Patton, and her husband Damien, Park City, Utah. She is also survived by a brother, Edward G. Williams, and his wife Gail Hollister, New York City, and her sister, Barbara Battelle , and her husband James Alligood, Palm Coast, Fl, in addition to her granddaughter Alexa E. Peck, Ulster Park. A niece, Kristin Alligood, and nephew, Gregory Williams, also survive. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her twin grandsons, Steven Gustave Peck and Ryan Atkins Peck, and her sister, Carol Ellen Williams.
A Community Memorial Celebration Honoring Anita Williams Peck will be held on Saturday, February 16th from 1-4 pm. SUNY Ulster Senate Gymnasium, 491 Cottekill Road Stone Ridge NY 12482.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Anita Williams Peck Fund, Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc., 491 Cottekill Road Stone Ridge, NY 12484, or on line at https://www.sunyulster.edu/foundation/anitawilliamspeck.
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