It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the untimely passing of Peter T. McGale at the age of 69 on Sept. 18, 2023.
A resident of Doylestown, Pa., and beloved husband of Judith Bell McGale, Peter was born in Hoboken, N.J., the second son of Catherine Reilly and Peter P. McGale.
After a distinguished basketball career at Westfield High School and Delaware Valley University, Peter graduated with a BBA in marketing from the College of New Jersey and spent a semester at Worcester College, where he acquired a lifelong proclivity for all things Anglophile. After a chance meeting with Lambertville, N.J., icon Jim Bulgar, he was persuaded to open a fine dining establishment with his brother Gerard, a recent graduate of Culinary Institute in Hyde Park, N.Y. Opened in December of 1979, Gerard’s was renowned for exceptional hospitality and cuisine and after a great review in the New York Times, played a significant role in the Lambertville restaurant renaissance. Peter was instrumental in organizing the Lambertville Shad Festival and often dedicated the restaurant’s proceeds to community individuals in need. He also helped spearhead the first highly regarded F.A.C.T. event at the Prallsville Mills in Stockton, N.J., that set the standard for future fund raisers benefiting the LGBTQ community.
After five years as a restaurateur, Peter pivoted to pursue a career in legal compliance. He worked in various positions at American Lawyer, Charles Jones Inc., Superior Information Services, and NRAI, ultimately becoming vice president of Fund Services at Agile Legal, work about which he was dedicated and passionate.
He devoted himself wholeheartedly to everything else he did, including his love for golf and his fellow golfers. His gregarious nature won him lifelong friends and a particular affinity for Scottish Terriers. That led to a love affair with the breed – and they loved him right back. Cooking was another passion, and nothing made him happier than bringing his cherished family together, hosting dinners and events for those he loved so much.
In addition to his wife Judith, Peter is survived by his siblings Bernard (Meg), Patricia Greenaway (John), Gerard, Thomas (Sarah), Dennis (Elaine), Michael (Renie), Timothy, Sean (Jen), Cathleen Gillen (Tim), and a beloved army of nieces, nephews, extended family and fast friends. Peter had a profound effect on the lives of many, and will be deeply missed but forever remembered.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a date to be determined in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA, the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice.
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