Peter's baseball days

Back in 1981, I (Jeff Larocque) was manager of the Balmy Arms Bruisers, a pub league, three-pitch team. Peter held down first base. We played other pubs in the "Beaches" area of Toronto once a week in season.

Peter makes the cover of Bruiser News

Peter was instrumental in helping me get a bartender job at the Balmy Arms pub. He set up an interview for me with Kate McMullen, the senior bartender, and I was hired with little to no reference-checking. I later became the bar manager. That gig ended up being a fun filled, three-year stint with some crazy nights. Thank's Pete.

The Bruiser team. That's Peter in the middle of all the women. Shaun McLaughlin is at the back with his arms up. Jeff Larocque is the guy in front of Shaun with the white shirt.

The Balmy Arms no longer exists. They tore it down, along with three other businesses adjacent to it to create a row of condos facing onto Queen Street East.

Pete also rented me a room in his home in the upper Beaches area for almost a year. During that time, I remember him buying a turbo-charged black Mustang that had serious kick-ass power... and then later on, he had a retro GTO (sweet). We enjoyed spinning tunes on my stereo when we typically hung out... which was usually Sundays. I remember him liking pretty much anything by the Eagles... and I tried my best to turn him into a Steely Dan fan but he remained true to his country rock artists.

Pete was a great friend, and helped me launch my career and find my strength in people and relationship-oriented business opportunities.

"Take It Easy" Pete.... cause your "Already Gone".. to the great "Hotel California" in the sky.

Posted on behalf of Jeff Larocque