Winston Samuel Peters, Sr.

Winston “Winty” Samuel Peters, was born to Samuel and Ruth Peters on May 29th 1946 in San Nicholas, Aruba, The Netherlands Antilles; at the time Winston’s father worked in Aruba which was the location of the oil refineries for Venezuela.  After some time, Samuel and Ruth moved back to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (S.V.G.), W.I. the place of their birth.  There they raised Winston and his siblings in the Botanical Gardens (the oldest Botanical Gardens in the Western Hemisphere) where Samuel Peters was the curator and overseer. While the family resided in the garden, they were known as “Peters from Gardens.”

In St. Vincent, Winty (as he was commonly called) was known for his expert motorcycle riding skills. Everyone had a story to share about Winty and his bike escapades.

Winston attended Intermediate High School and thereafter became a S.V.G. police officer for several years. After his police service, Winston migrated to the United States where he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He proudly served as a Military Police Officer and Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg N.C.

In 1972, Winston married the love of his life Bernice (Bonnie) in Brooklyn, N.Y.  and their union produced three children: Kurt, Michele, and Winston Jr.

Winston loved working with numbers and with his brilliant mind joined Bankers Trust on Wall Street in 1971 where he was employed for 15 years, moving up the ranks to become a manager. After a while, Winston knew it was time for a career change and that change came in the form of working for the I.R.S. in 1987.  It was at the IRS where he combined his love of numbers and service to the country for more than 30 years.

With his sense of humor, light spirit, and considerate heart, Winston made everyone's experience at the IRS a comfortable one. His considerate heart extended to assisting friends and strangers to navigate the tax system during tax season.  During his tenure with the IRS, Winston became a Tax Instructor, traveling around the U.S. to teach employees new government regulations and policies. Several years later, Winston was promoted to Audit Manager of Brooklyn then later Audit Manager of Queens.

Winston’s superpower was making everyone he came in contact with feel comfortable and welcomed even during sad times. He talked to every and anyone; it didn’t matter if you were a stranger, Winston always had a joke or funny story to tell.

In Winston’s spare time he loved to cook; if you came over for Sunday dinner or if he said he was going to cook for you, you knew you were in for a treat. Winston was famously known for his oxtail, curry chicken, and curry goat.  

Winston had many names and was affectionately known as Uncle Winty to his nieces and nephews and Pops, Papa to his grandchildren and any child fortunate enough to spend time with him.   It was because of his love of people that he made sure that there were an abundance of jokes, funny stories, and games around the home to share with his children, nieces, nephews, siblings, and friends at every family event.

Winston fought a good fight and passed away peacefully at Wyckoff Hospital on Saturday, October 26, 2019. He was surrounded by his beloved wife, children, sisters and special nurse Georgina George.  Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife Bernice (Bonnie), three children, Kurt, Michele (Daddy’s Girl), and Winston Jr., daughter-in-law Teresa, special daughter Stefanie, two grandchildren Hayden Matthew and Addison Grace.

Also, he is remembered with great love by his brothers and sisters, Janice Peters, Yvonne Williams, Trevor Peters, Juliette Campbell, Kenneth Peters, Lorna Peters, Prince Robertson, and Randolph Smart, and a host of nieces and nephews in the U.S.A., U.K., Canada, SVG.  He is remembered, too, by his in-laws: Jacqueline & Rudolph Boucher, Margaret & Thomas Leddy, P.R. Campbell, Delia Peters, Julian Joseph, Joan Peters, and adopted family: Andrew and Caroline Moy.

He also leaves to cherish his life his best friend Ormond Ashby, blood brother Julien (Arnett) Brown, Ricky Adain, Glyger Glenroy Beach, and special friends Selwyn, Richmond Owusu, Arthur James, Lawrence Jenkins, Newton Lee, Kenneth Turner, and Willie Crews.

He will be missed by his S.V.G. Ex-Police Association in the U.S.A. and IRS family: Nadine Nelson (secretary).

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