.092 Peter Beard

When I started at The Met, Peter was an immediate dose of intelligence and clarity. He continued to be that leveling and calming figure throughout my time there, and it was a true privilege to work with and get to know him. From the start, it was inspiring to me to meet another openly gay man at the office, something that I wish wasn’t a big deal, but continues to be important and helpful. Peter was (and still is) such an important part of the department, setting the example with patience, efficiency, respect and compassion toward all. The fact that he was also a member of the LGBT community was just an incredible bonus.

At least a few times a week, I would head to Peter’s desk to ask about something or just to tell him another silly story. He was always super helpful and gave me the confidence to either continue what I was doing or take a new path toward possible success. He always listened and gave me the time to express myself, and in meetings or other parts of the day, Peter’s voice and opinion was always respected, crucial and needed. Over time, I was lucky enough to make Peter laugh, something that is truly contagious and shows his wonderful sense of humor and truly joyful personality. Seeing him at the office each day was genuinely a refreshing feeling and one that helped me get through the day.

Peter, thank you so much for being your kind and loving self. Thank you for dealing with my silly puns and jokes, sometimes even at the expense of your cool shirts. Thank you for always being supportive of me and my thoughts and for helping me see through challenges towards a solution. Thank you for always being so positive and for being game to tackle any obstacle. I’m so grateful for our time together and to call you a friend as well. Thank you, Peter, for being you.

-BD