Peter Edwin Goldsmith Obituary
Lauderhill, Florida - Peter Edwin Goldsmith passed away peacefully on February 4, 2025 after a brief illness.
Born on December 21, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York to Bernard and Bertha Goldsmith, Peter grew up on Coney Island, eating Nathan's hot dogs after school and enjoying weekly dinners at Brooklyn's fancy Italian restaurants, sparking a lifelong pleasure in what he called 'fine dining' (preferably with tuxedoed waiters, crisp table linens and elaborate silver service). Holidays and special occasions meant desserts from Ebinger's, including of course the blackout cake.
After completing his education, Peter built a business career, developing a talent for purchasing and graphic design that culminated in his work for Warner Communications in New York and San Francisco before venturing out on his own. He operated a successful New York graphic design and printing business for many years, serving local, national and international clients.
Peter enjoyed the culture and entertainment of New York City, particularly the theatre and ballet, but also anything tinged with old Hollywood glamour (reflected in the Marlene Dietrich photo that graced his home) and torch songs and jazz. He also loved relaxing and hosting at his impeccably maintained home and gardens in East Hampton. He punctuated his day-to-day New York life with glamorous events and trips, whether a transatlantic voyage on the QE2, an elegant out-of-town black tie gala, a grand Italian tour, an over-the-top-in-excess Tavern on the Green lunch (as guest of Warner LeRoy) or his own meticulously planned and executed fiftieth birthday party.
Peter was a devoted son, remaining in the New York area (despite his virulent dislike of cold weather) to care for his parents until their passing. In 2001, he retired to warm and sunny Miami. A few years following the move, he suffered a serious brain injury, but battled back with resolve and resilience. He simply refused to accept the limitations others attempted to impose on him, and continued to live the life he wished to live. He took up writing, dabbled in online merchandising, and most recently, became an accomplished cook and baker (successfully recreating the Ebinger's blackout cake as his last great baking adventure).
Throughout his life, professionally and personally, Peter was exacting and opinionated. He believed there was a correct way to do many things, and insisted on the 'right' way whenever he had the power to do so whether that concerned container gardening (the pots must be rotated), preparing chopped liver (no chicken liver 'mousse' or other such abominations), or serving the proper martini ('it should be so cold a mist follows you from the bar'). He could be sharp in his views, and took pleasure in the impish comment, risqué innuendo, or brash statement and if he sparked a strong response, so much the better for entertainment and discourse. His high standards were backed by a clear vision as to what he liked and how he wanted things done. His homes and choices reflected that vision: it was easy to determine if Peter would like something, or if he wouldn't. He was quick to identify a lack of similar vision, whether in a restaurant menu, a political policy choice, or a piece of art. Such situations tended to invoke from him the Yiddish saying, 'Nisht ahin, nisht aher'(which, after reciting in Yiddish, he could be counted on to follow with the aside that while this saying was understood as 'neither here nor there', in fact it literally meant 'not a chicken nor a rabbit', which to him more accurately stated his thinking on the matter.).
Peter will perhaps best be remembered for how he took such constant and meticulous care of what was important to him -- his homes; his treasured art, furnishings and collections; his cars; his plants and gardens; his dogs Kichie, Ziggy, Freud, and his best friend at the end of his life, Stella -- and most of all the people who were important to him, his many many friends who he regularly called, texted, emailed, and otherwise reached out to in whatever means were available to him.
Though Peter had no immediate family, his friends were his true family. He will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
In lieu of flowers, we know that Peter would request that donations be made to a political cause he would favor, or to an animal shelter in his memory.
A private gathering in South Florida is planned for March 8, 2025 in remembrance of Peter. Those interested in attending may inquire at:
