Peter L. Tucker

Peter L. Tucker of Grant Village, Syracuse NY  passed away June 1, 2020 at University Hospital. Peter was the son of Solomon L. And Rose Tucker, born 1/24/40 in Bonthe, Sherbro Island, Sierra Leone West Africa. Mr, Tucker had nine siblings, he was predeceased by his brothers  Charles and Jonathan  of  Sierra Leone and brother Alex Surba Tucker, a physician in Milwaukee for many years. Peter grew up among mangrove trees, rivers, near the ocean  and streams where he and his siblings enjoyed delicacies of the sea including cooked oysters and clams. He attended the Christian boarding school and was taught by Irish Catholic priests and nuns. As a young college student he served as a Peace Corps volunteer ambassador in Africa, hosting many US participants before coming to the US where he pursued higher education and became an American citizen. He Competed a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics and  Mathematics  at Hampton University, Hampton Virginia in 1966.  He studied at Milwaukee School of Engineering and encouraged his younger brother Alex to come to Milwaukee to complete his medical training where Alex served for many years as a physician until his death in March 2020.

Peter and many family members were encouraged to continue their education in America and he came to Syracuse to complete a masters degree in Industrial engineering in 1974. Peter made Syracuse his home and although he returned to Africa in 2008 and visited many parts of the US visiting family in Maryland, Texas, and Milwaukee Wisconsin he remained happily in the Syracuse area for the remainder of his life. He worked for the Nestle Chocolate factory in Fulton NY  for many years. He then took a position in NY State DOT where he served as senior Engineering technician and inspector, performing highway and bridge project monitoring and management until 2004. Peter was a gentle, kind soul who like his mentor Sam Tucker and per family tradition, he helped to mentor many family and friends who came to this country and pursued an education degree.  

Peter is survived by his son, David Tucker of Salt Lake City, Utah, his sisters Bridget Tucker of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Rosella Tucker of Houston, Texas, brothers Joly B. Tucker of Houston Texas and Henry Tucker of Freetown, Africa, many nieces, nephews and cousins and  friends  and Ellie Abel, a close friend and aide to Mr. Tucker. He will be sorely missed.

A virtual  celebration of life is Friday June 12, 2020 at 1:00pm ET . Messages of condolences may be sent to David Tucker at 1802 E. Lincoln Lane, UT 84124 or by email: dav292@mail.harvard.edu or leave a message on the Tribute Wall 

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