Ithacan Peter De Mott's life inspires memorial event in June
by Joseph Murtagh, published May 26, 2010 in the Ithaca Times
Peter de Mott, a well-known peace activist in the Ithaca area who passed away last year, had a passion for rhyming that was almost as great as his passion for running. As he was fond of saying: "a day without sweat is a day to regret."
"He was always running," recalled his wife Ellen Grady. "It really lifted his spirits."
A prominent figure in the local peace and justice movement, Peter de Mott died in February 2009 at age 62 after a fall while working in a tree, leaving behind his wife and four daughters.
As Grady explains, running was an integral part of her husband's life. He had a wide circle of running friends with whom he also shared a passion for activism and the joys of being a father. To honor that legacy, this year his family and friends are organizing the "Peter de Mott Peace Trot Memorial 5K Run" for Father's Day, June 20. The race will Take place at 1 p.m. on the Cornell Plantations, but registration opens at 11 a.m.
The event, which is sponsored by the Center for Transformative Action and the Ithaca Catholic Worker, aims to raise money for the Peter de Mott Catholic Worker House on Plain St. in Ithaca. Throughout his life, De Mott, who was a devoted Catholic, was deeply involved in the Catholic Worker movement, a collection of autonomous communities of Catholics founded by Dorothy Day in 1933. The mission of the movement is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ," and it works at the intersection of peace, religious faith, and social justice. These are values, said Grady, that her husband embodied in his life, and the purpose of naming the Catholic Worker House after him is to continue the legacy of his life's work.
The name "Peace Trot" came about, Grady added, because her husband was such a big fan of poetry.
"Peter loved rhyming, he loved poetry," she said, "so when were first planning this event, one of his running friends said, 'you shouldn't call it a race, you should call it the Peter de Mott Peace Trot.'"
Grady was quick to add, however, that her husband wasn't a competitive person by nature and that the event is not a race.
"Walking is definitely welcome," she said, noting that the event poster reads "run, trot, walk, or crawl."
Grady said too that it was meaningful that this event was happening on Father's Day, since Peter de Mott was such a devoted father to his four daughters.
The organizers of the run are encouraging participants to get family and friends to sponsor them. There will also be prizes, such as a t-shirt, and other prizes of a "special and unique" nature. If you'd like more information about the run, you can contact Ellen Grady at (607) 277-6932 or e-mail her at demottgrady6@gmail.com.
Peter de Mott, a well-known peace activist in the Ithaca area who passed away last year, had a passion for rhyming that was almost as great as his passion for running. As he was fond of saying: "a day without sweat is a day to regret."
"He was always running," recalled his wife Ellen Grady. "It really lifted his spirits."
A prominent figure in the local peace and justice movement, Peter de Mott died in February 2009 at age 62 after a fall while working in a tree, leaving behind his wife and four daughters.
As Grady explains, running was an integral part of her husband's life. He had a wide circle of running friends with whom he also shared a passion for activism and the joys of being a father. To honor that legacy, this year his family and friends are organizing the "Peter de Mott Peace Trot Memorial 5K Run" for Father's Day, June 20. The race will Take place at 1 p.m. on the Cornell Plantations, but registration opens at 11 a.m.
The event, which is sponsored by the Center for Transformative Action and the Ithaca Catholic Worker, aims to raise money for the Peter de Mott Catholic Worker House on Plain St. in Ithaca. Throughout his life, De Mott, who was a devoted Catholic, was deeply involved in the Catholic Worker movement, a collection of autonomous communities of Catholics founded by Dorothy Day in 1933. The mission of the movement is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ," and it works at the intersection of peace, religious faith, and social justice. These are values, said Grady, that her husband embodied in his life, and the purpose of naming the Catholic Worker House after him is to continue the legacy of his life's work.
The name "Peace Trot" came about, Grady added, because her husband was such a big fan of poetry.
"Peter loved rhyming, he loved poetry," she said, "so when were first planning this event, one of his running friends said, 'you shouldn't call it a race, you should call it the Peter de Mott Peace Trot.'"
Grady was quick to add, however, that her husband wasn't a competitive person by nature and that the event is not a race.
"Walking is definitely welcome," she said, noting that the event poster reads "run, trot, walk, or crawl."
Grady said too that it was meaningful that this event was happening on Father's Day, since Peter de Mott was such a devoted father to his four daughters.
The organizers of the run are encouraging participants to get family and friends to sponsor them. There will also be prizes, such as a t-shirt, and other prizes of a "special and unique" nature. If you'd like more information about the run, you can contact Ellen Grady at (607) 277-6932 or e-mail her at demottgrady6@gmail.com.
