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Doug Dempster posted a condolence
Monday, May 23, 2022
Pete and I wrestled on the St Lawrence University wrestling team together back in 1973-75. I lost touch with Pete after we graduated, but some of the alumni wrestlers are planning a reunion and that got me wondering what happened to Pete. That's how I came across this obituary. I'm sorry to learn of his passing.
I've forgotten a lot about those years, but I have a fond memories about the wrestling team and a few about Pete in particular.
We were unlikely friends, even on a small team. I was a lightweight from NJ. i wrestled 118. Pete was one of the big tough guys from what I thought were "the sticks" of PA and NY. And I had never seen such big guys in all my years of wrestling in NJ--I started at the age of 11. He, and they, were huge. i wondered how I was going to survive in that kind of company when I had always relied on speed and moves to win my matches. I spent a lot more time in the weight room after making the team.
Pete had an irresistible laugh that seemed to come rumbling out of him like a giant bell. You could hear it a mile away. And he was a friendly, sarcastic guy. We got along easily.
I remember sharing a hatred of running with Pete, which was not a good thing because our coach, John Clark, would punish the team, whenever he thought we were getting lazy by sending us out into the North Country snow and cold to do a long run. At least one time, Pete and I decided we would outsmart the coach by hanging back long enough, waiting in the slush and cold, so we could hitchhike back. Which we did. But by the time a ride picked up a couple of long-haired, muscle-bound kids in sweat suits on those lonely roads around Canton we were half frozen. We would have been warmer had we just run the damn 5 miles.
Another time, I remember being on a road trip to Syracuse where we were the next day, I think, about to get our heads handed to us by the powerhouse Syracuse wrestling team. We were staying in that high-rise octagon Holiday Inn--or whatever--along the highway. As we walked into our room, I thought I'd be clever and swiped the knit cap of Pete's head, slid the window open, and threatened to drop it ten floors down on the highway. Thinking fast, Pete offered a negotiated compromise by grabbing all 118 lbs of me and sticking most of me out that window with the cap. Not quite what I was expecting! We came to an amicable agreement. Pete got his cap. I got my life. Everyone won.
By our sophomore year, I was having more and more trouble making weight at 118 lbs. I was having to move up a weight class where the competition was tougher and stronger. Frequent injuries were just more and more part of the sport. I was also becoming more committed to my studies in politics, philosophy, and religion. It was becoming clearer to me that to continue competing at the level of St Lawrence wrestling, I was going to have to be dedicated in ways that would make it hard to be as serious as I wanted to be about my studies, not to mention a social life, which didn't fit great into the schedule of training and competing. My poor teammates had to put up with more and more of my literally sophomoric pontificating.
Anyway, poor Pete once found himself cornered in a sauna with me as the two us us tried to sweat off a few pounds before a weigh in. We each had layers of sweat suits and plastic overalls on, huge puddles of sweat gathering under us. It seemed a perfect time for me to share with Pete all I had learned about Abraham Mazlow's hierarchy of needs, which I was learning about in a Psychology course. I took Pete's patient silence as intense concentration. I thought he was dialed-in on my lecture, absorbing everything Mazlow and I had to share about self actualization and what lessons it might hold for his future. When there was a pause in my lecture, as I remember the occasion, Pete lifted his dripping head up from between his knees, looked at me from under his sweaty brow and said "Weasel . . ." yes, that was my none-too intimidating nickname on the team ". . . Weasel, I have no G-- damn idea what you've been talking about for the last 20 minutes." Once again, he had sobered me up fast.
I like to think that Pete, by his example, was teaching me to keep my feet on the ground--especially when you're ten floors up and conspicuously outmatched--and that you'd better be able to laugh at yourself--especially when you're most full of yourself--and that I was likely to be a better and happier professor than I was a wrestler.
That was my last year on the wrestling team. Might have been my last week so far as I can remember. But I have to chuckle when I realize Pete and I both ended up as college professors.
Pete Auringer deserves to be remembered. My condolences to his family and friends.
Doug Dempster
Austin, Texas
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Sam Auringer Posted Nov 2, 2022 at 9:04 PM
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John Maclean posted a condolence
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
I met Pete at The Hill School. He became a great friend. Always had a smile. Always upbeat. We never caught up after graduation. He loved wrestling and was very good at it. Some times I miss those days when we were just boys playing at life.
John "Ramon" Maclean
Hill '73
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Barbara (Panter) Stillman posted a condolence
Sunday, August 30, 2020
I am so sorry to hear of Peter's passing. My condolences to the family. Peter and I many years ago were together and the memories have never left me. Just a couple that make me still smile whenever I think of them. Him and I riding around in his 442 and singing at the top of our lungs to Englebert Humperdinck. Yep we did... Of course I wasn't supposed to ever tell. Also our little bets when his Cleveland Browns played my Oakland Raiders. Even last season he got a hold of me and wanted to bet me... So many things come to mind about him and he will always hold a place in my heart!! Murray is going to miss you and so will i......
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Helen (McMahon) Klausner posted a condolence
Sunday, August 30, 2020
I was so saddened to here of Peters passing.He, Sam and I became fast friends the summer I watched them while Mom and Dad were with Ann at her shows. We would go fishing at Palmers Pond. When we were at the house, we would make banana bread. Since it was eaten right out of the oven with butter on it, it became butter bread. I spent a morning trying to convince Peter to stop smoking. He had to smoke a pack, one after the other until the pack was gone. We were both sick by the time the pack was gone.
To Sam and Ann, please accept my condolences. You will be in my prayers.
Helen (McMahon) Klausner
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Dan Smith posted a condolence
Sunday, August 30, 2020
I grew with Pete (Doc as we called him). I lived on Davenport St. and we all would gather at the Columbian School to play basketball. He will be missed.
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Ann Gregory posted a symbolic gesture
Thursday, August 27, 2020
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Part of Peter’s Extraordinary Journey
I was so sorry to hear about Peter. Those pictures brought back many memories. Peter and I met back in his Cato-Meridian Athletic Director days. I was teaching in a nearby school and coached at Cato. We developed a fun friendship where I would always beat him in these fun made-up athletic challenges. I was taller than him so I think he was afraid to win!!! Peter always won if any cooking contests came about-he was a great cook.
The friendship developed into a dating relationship for a few years and we headed to the Hudson Valley together-he went to Goshen-I went to New Paltz Schools and we lived in New Hampton with Duke and my cats. I remember giving Duke to Peter as a gift back in Fairhaven-Peter spoiled that dog-but if I remember correctly-I was the one who took him to obedience school. He did not want the dog at first, but after two nights Duke was his. They became soulmates. Both of our favorite memories of Duke was his gentle ability to unwrap Christmas presents-I think I still have a VHS tape of that. When Duke died, it was a hard loss for Peter, but when he told me he got Dr. Ted I knew things would be alright. He would continue to have his “beautiful blondes” around. Peter did love to fish and he had some nice spots around Lake Ontario , and in the Hudson Valley regions where he lived. He would often go with his buddy Ken. The job of an Athletic Director does not leave you much time for fishing-but despite that -he had his share of questionable fishing tales!!! Peter and I went our separate ways, but I was there with Ken to move Peter and Duke to Lock Haven. I was able to visit a couple times after, and it made me smile that Peter was so happy to be going back to what he loved the most -and that was teaching. The pressure was off from the demanding Athletic Director’s position and he could get back to enjoying life, laughing more, and telling jokes he thought were funny. Peter did have a big deep laugh that I am sure his family and friends will miss. I read in his obituary about his perfect cards-he also had a knack of finding the best gifts. There was always a stack of catalogs on his table that he would do his shopping from- he really did find joy in discovering that perfect gift. I was always spoiled with peanut M&M’s and flowers-even the roses he loved.
There are many funny stories, but one I still laugh at. Peter had to teach a health class at Cato to middle school aged kids. He was asked what size will their testicles get to? Peter said “I was so shocked - I told them the size of the tennis ball. Peter always did dream big!!!
Peter spoke of his parents and family frequently-he always wanted to buy his grandfather's cabin/house in retirement but he chose a different path. His father had passed before I met him, but I knew that left a big hole in his heart. We kept in touch with Christmas cards, and a few phone calls for many years and I was happy when he made it back home to retire. He had a weight room wherever he went, and no doubt there was one back at Maple Street when he returned.
I have not seen Peter in years but he was always in my heart, and prayers for a happy life. I know he met many people on his travels that felt the same way. Heaven will now have to adjust it's sense of humor-they will not be prepared for Peter!!!!
As Winnie the Pooh Says ;
"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
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Paul Ballat lit a candle
Thursday, August 27, 2020
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I was saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Peter Auringer and I would like to send my prayers, and condolences, to his family.
I was Peter’s office mate during most of his years at Lock Haven University. Peter was a caring professor, and good friend to me and my family.
I will think fondly of our time together; and, I hope he may Rest in Peace.
Sincerely,
Paul Ballat
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Wednesday, August 26, 2020
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Tuesday, August 25, 2020
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Tuesday, August 25, 2020
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Tuesday, August 25, 2020
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Tuesday, August 25, 2020
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