R. Peter Bourque

Bedford – Mr. R. Peter Bourque, of Waltham, died Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was 78.

Pete was born in Waltham on August 25, 1935, a son of the late Aurele and Amanda (Bourgeois) Bourque, and had been a lifelong resident of the city before moving to Bedford eight years ago. He was a graduate of Colburn Classical Institute in Waterville, Maine. Pete married his sweetheart, Watertown native Mary Ann Conrad, in Saint Patrick's Church on October 18, 1958 and together they raised their five children in Waltham.

Pete was the proprietor of 'Pete's Place', a barber shop on Lexington Street where everyone really did know your name. No one who entered the shop ever left a stranger. Pete was also known around town for his generous spirit. His name was always on the short list of people who got the call when someone was in need of cheering up, a bit of insightful advice or help organizing a fundraiser for someone in need.

The organizations that Pete had been involved with all his life were the Waltham Lions Club where he had been a past president, the Waltham Boys & Girls Club and the Waltham Vocational High School where he served on the advisory board. He was the regional director of the All-American Soap Box Derby and he was the founder of Basketball Plus, a weekly youth basketball clinic that he ran at the high school.

In addition to his wife of fifty-five years, Mary Ann, he leaves his children, Peter A. Bourque and his wife, Barbara, of Waltham, Lisa G. Cimino and her husband, Bill, of Bedford, Christopher D. Bourque of Yardley, Pennsylvania, Lynne M. Deschenes of Amesbury and James C. Bourque of Boston; his grandchildren, Meghan and Michael Bourque, William Cimino, Tori Grace Hines, Arielle Cimino, Brianna Cimino, Tyler Bourque, Leah Bourque, Luc Deschenes and Noah Deschenes; his sister Marie Hancock of Waltham; and many nieces and nephews.

Pete was also the brother of the late Gerald Bourque, Laurie Bourque, Richard Bourque and Jeannette McCarthy.

Family and friends will honor and remember Pete's life by gathering for calling hours in Sacred Heart Church, 16 Follen Road, Lexington on Friday, January 31st, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the NephCure Foundation, 16 Waterloo Avenue, Berwyn, PA 19312.