Peter T. Pochna

Peter Tichenor Pochna died on January 27, 2022, at the age of 80 at a nursing home in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

He is survived by his two children, Nina Melissa Pochna and Peter S. Pochna, and four grandchildren, Kya Fee Pochna, Conor Pochna, Ethan Pochna and Arden Pochna.

Peter grew up in Darien, CT, with his father, Stavin Pochna, his mother, Amy D. Pochna, and his sister, Dana Pochna. He lived for periods in New York City and Greenwich, CT, before moving to Newport, RI, where he lived for 25 years.  He touched the lives of many with his  friendly and nonjudgmental demeanor.  He was known for his smile, enthusiasm, intelligence, and consideration.  He moved to the nursing home in Hastings-on-Hudson after being diagnosed with dementia last year.  He passed due to a heart attack but was already well on his way, receiving end of life care and being comforted by staff and family.  He died at peace and with dignity.

Peter graduated from Yale University with a degree in economics and started his career at Citibank. He then worked for venture capital firms including Foster Management Group and Phoenix Management Group.

He married Priscilla Tilt in 1963. They later divorced but maintained an amicable relationship, and she provided him with strong support in his final months.

Peter was passionate about many things. He enjoyed attending Broadway plays and classical music concerts at Carnegie Hall. He was a good athlete who played soccer and lacrosse in college. He played tennis throughout his life and remained a strong player well into his 70s. He was an avid sports fan who closely followed the New York Mets and enjoyed telling stories about attending World Series games in the Mets championship seasons of 1969 and 1986. He also closely followed Yale sports, particularly the lacrosse team. He liked growing roses and painting abstract art and was an avid reader of newspapers, history books and spy novels.

Perhaps most of all he enjoyed people. He had many friends, some of whom he remained close with for more than 60 years. He dedicated much of his later life to a spiritual fellowship, building his own character with the God of his understanding and mentoring others on the way.  His quiet faith and sense of calmness were inspiring to those with whom he shared.

He loved his children and grandchildren and was always offering positive words of support. He had a generally sunny disposition which, despite his condition, remained to the very end.

Donations can be made in his memory to the Dementia Society of America by mail to PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or online to www.DementiaSociety.org/donate.