Peter Magaro

Obituary of Peter Magaro

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Peter Anthony Magaro died January 5, 2025, peacefully in his sleep after battling illness for more than a year. January would have been his 90th birthday, and he lived a full and exhilarating life. He was a true fighter, and he bravely overcame his illnesses for as long as he could.

Peter was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1935, and was the only child of Mildred Fierro and Peter Magaro. After graduating high school in Hazelton, he attended Penn State University, where he studied psychology and ran track Following college, he went in the Army, and after his stint, he returned safely home. Afterwards, he attended graduate school, and graduated in 1965 from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine, where he received his Doctor of Psychology.

He married Geneva Watts in 1964, and had 4 children: Lisa, Jennie, Elizabeth, and Peter. The family moved to Maine where he taught psychology at the University of Maine at Orono, and then Ohio, where he taught at Ohio State University. He was the Director of the Psychology Department and enjoyed a semester In India for research on sabbatical. During his academic career he wrote several books on Clinical Psychology and published many journal articles He always followed his dreams, which included living in Italy for a year during a sabbatical, living on a self-supporting farm, and many trips to his beloved NYC to see Broadway musicals and eat at the best Italian restaurants with his family.

Dr. Magaro was not only an esteemed Professor of Psychology, but also a prodigious entrepreneur. He started his first successful company in Ohio, advising companies how best to motivate and mentally support staff. He then moved to New York City, where he eventually formed several healthcare programs, including Comprehensive Habilitation Services, Memory Training Center of America, and The Full Life Institute. He was outstanding in the business of helping others.

In NYC, Peter met Xiao, fell in love, and married in 2001. They have two sons, Howie and Peter Z. They were very happy living in Forest Hills, where they would stroll around the neighborhood and walk their dogs Charlie and Jojo. He enjoyed traveling, with his most cherished trips being to China, Mongolia, and Italy with his family. Another highlight, as many will recall, was him singing his favorite Frank Sinatra Song, “My Way”, with his son Peter at his 80th Birthday celebration.

Peter loved writing and working, and continued to work until his last days. His books on Personality types are still sold on Amazon. His love of life was always a contagious force. He enjoyed his Italian food, steak house dinners, and various drinks and sweets through out life. He had always enjoyed music (he played trombone), dancing, Broadway shows, watching sports, spending time with his family. His sharp outfits , his resounding laugh, his unusual options, and his charm and smile will be missed by all that knew him. He believed in reincarnation, and we hope that he is reunited with his loved ones in another lifetime.

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Peter Magaro

In Loving Memory

Peter Magaro

1935 - 2025

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