Peter Joseph Doris

Peter Joseph Doris, 62 of West Chester, PA passed away Friday, November 15, 2024 at his home in West Chester. He was the adoring husband of Susan L. Nostrand Doris.

Born March 22, 1962 in Morristown, NJ, Peter was the son of Margaret Mooney Doris and the late Daniel Doris. He grew up in Rockaway, NJ, and graduated from Morris Knolls High School, where he played guard on the Golden Eagles football team. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University in 1984 where he was the President of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity. He met his wife Susan when her car broke down on the side of the road and he, then a stranger, stopped to help push it to safety. After one year at Picatinny Arsenal, Peter transitioned to computer programming and graduated from the Chubb Institute of Technology in 1986. He and Susan spent seven years in Bethlehem, PA, then moved to Nazareth, PA, and later to Robbinsville, NJ. They settled in West Chester in 2001, where Peter worked for SAP for 23 years.

Never encumbered by social convention, Peter found no occasion too formal for pajamas and could be seen around town in his purple minivan. Often, the purpose of his drive was to deliver his children to their many, many extracurricular activities – which reflects the life of selfless service to which he was devoted. To his children, Peter was everything: tutor, advisor, editor, playmate, coach, role model, and cheerleader. He was active with his church, serving as a board member and on the Appalachian Service Project. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and for disaster relief efforts. He saved the lives of two strangers by rescuing a drowning child and performing the Heimlich on a choking man. He was a devoted husband, a dear friend, a voice of reason, and a cheerful dispenser of Dad jokes to any lucky companion.

An avid reader all his life, Peter also dabbled in poetry, woodcarving, and brewing kombucha, and was an enthusiastic if unfortunate fisherman. He enjoyed playing cards; hiking and being outdoors; listening to Jim Croce, Norah Jones, and The Eagles; and making a whole room of people double over in laughter. He loved the world, and his life enriched it.

Peter leaves a legacy of love, wit, integrity, generosity, and humility. His family will cherish his memory and strive to pay forward the limitless love he lavished on us all.

In addition to his mother and wife, he is survived by his son, Andrew Doris, son, Daniel (Samantha) Doris, daughter, Emily Doris, son, Aiden Doris; brother, Daniel (Debbie) Doris, sister, Katherine "Kitty" (Peter) Bates, brother, James (Kelly) Doris, sister, Margaret "Peggy" (Mitchell) Covington; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitations on Friday, November 22, 2024 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 North Church Street West Chester, PA 19380, and on Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 10:00 am - 10:45 am at Calvary Lutheran Church; 730 South New Street West Chester, PA 19382; followed by his Funeral Service at 11:00 am. Live Streaming will be available Here. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Melanoma Research Institute of Excellence (MRIE), with a designation to Uveal Melanoma Research. The family is grateful to Dr. Sato and his team at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, which extended Peter’s life by several years.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith and Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 N. Church St. West Chester PA, 19380 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com