It is with regret that we announce the death of Peter Sabbagh in the early hours of Monday, August 29th, 2022. Peter died of cancer at Toronto General Hospital, his children in attendance. He was 76 years old.
Peter leaves behind his son, Geordie, daughter-in-law, Olga, and grandson, Eli, son, Jesse, grandson, Owen, and daughter, Sariana. He is survived by his brother, Steve, and numerous family members in both Vancouver and Lebanon.
Born in Baakleen, Lebanon, and always an adventurer, Peter traveled to 150 countries and could often be seen driving around town in his orange Vette, Zeppelin blaring and grinding fourth and fifth gear.
He made fortunes and lost them, lived through the sixties and seventies experiencing all that disco and tie-dye had to offer. He made sure his kids knew everything just before he left, ensuring a lifetime of therapy for them. Peter would not have gotten that joke.
Arriving in Canada as a young man in his twenties, with just $37.00 in his pocket, he learned English from I Love Lucy, which explains a lot, and did everything from hairdressing to taxi driving to owning a series of fast-food outlets. He did Liz Taylor’s hair and kicked Santana out of a bar before falling in love with a woman named Heather, who made him the class act you all know and love.
Eventually, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to his passion for developing. He spent an idyllic eight years building in the Cayman Islands, a place that he loved and where he spent some of his happiest years yelling at his kids and construction workers. Later in life, Peter followed his passion for the land to Port Elgin, a place he referred to as his “second Cayman.” He built a couple of buildings, but more importantly, hundreds of friendships that ensured his house was always full of laughter, BBQ, and random people crashing everywhere.
Peter lived ten lifetimes in one and went out on his terms. He never listened to anyone and for those who loved him, we would expect nothing less. He followed in the footsteps of Christ, and was always the first to offer his hand to those in need.
A service of remembrance will be held for Peter at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 19th at St. John’s Anglican Church, Port Elgin. There will be no internment at that time, but a reception will follow at the Three Sheets Tap room at 1246 Goderich Street.
Flowers are gratefully declined; donations in Peter’s name can be made to Saugeen Memorial Hospital or by volunteering in and around the town he loved.