Pete with his family, Eamon, Adah, and Eileen

Five years ago, our oldest son, Peter, was in St. Louis waiting for a lung transplant that never came. Instead, his lungs collapsed and he passed away on December 7 at the age of 32, leaving a wife and two small children. As the first anniversary of his death approached, our family wanted to do something to remember and honor him. Thus, the first Annual Peter Mosher Service Day was born.

Pete was all about service, from collecting money for UNICEF while trick-r-treating in elementary school, to organizing the huge, St. X cross-country team to volunteer for the Red Cross during the 1997 flood in Cincinnati. The summer after his junior year he went on a mission trip to Matamoros, Mexico. That trip made such an impression on him that the following year, he planned and carried out a mission trip to the same village for a group of friends.

Pete’s arms of service stretched around the world to Ghana where he met a couple young men out for a run, as was he. Except, they were running in flip-flops, much to Pete’s amazement and concern. So once home, he boxed up some of his running shoes and mailed them back to Ghana. Spring break mission trips took Pete to Denver, Jamaica and Ireland.

As a physical therapist, Pete’s ambition was to heal others. He volunteered to provide therapy in my aunt’s home after surgery, and later, to work with two young girls from Central America being treated at Shriners Burns Institute in Cincinnati. With his fluent Spanish, these two sisters were able to communicate in their native language, which must have been comforting while living so far away from their home and family. Eventually, Pete was hired to be the Physical Therapy Director of Clinical Education at the College of Mount Saint Joseph. He encouraged his students to choose clinical opportunities serving the underserved, and they in turn praised the way he was available for them.

Even as Pete dealt with his failing health, he urged everyone to become an organ donor. When he passed away, in his final selfless act of service, he became a donor of his bones.

Now, five years later, we will be hosting the Fifth Annual Peter Mosher Service Day this Saturday, December 1^st. Anyone can join in one of the many service projects, including: Matthew 25 Ministries, Churches Active in Northside, Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, Working In Neighborhoods, The Shelterhouse, Westwood Deck the Halls and Life Center. Or, donate new toys for the children of South Cumminsville. We can also use food for the day and help in the kitchen.

Over the years, families, including Pete’s, have returned to the same elderly person to put up a Christmas tree for them. The first year, they each took a small picture of him to leave with the elder and one woman hung it on her tree. Our financial planner saw a Facebook post and every year has brought brownies he has baked with his young son to give to the Shelterhouse (previously the Drop-Inn Center) for their Christmas party. The guests at the party always rave about the brownies and want to know who baked them. Maybe it’s all the love baked into them. People from various circles in our lives have folded and sorted donated clothes together and rehabbed houses. One dear friend who had helped in the past found himself in prison two years ago and insisted that his brother, who we had never met, represent him on the service day. Our grandchildren’s classmates, have decorated placemats for senior Christmas parties, as have elderly nuns who are making ornaments this year.

Some people dedicate work to Pete that they already planned to do, while others living out of town find a project or two in their own home cities. My youngest brother in Dayton couldn’t make it to the service day one year so he, his wife and three young sons packed and donated 100 lunches to an organization there and included a small card in each bag telling the recipient that their food was given in memory of Pete Mosher. One Cincinnati couple was on vacation visiting their son in Nevada on the service day and asked him to find a service project they could do while there! Physical therapy students in Columbus who never knew Pete have come forward at the suggestion of their clinical instructor who was Pete’s colleague. Now every spring the physical therapy programs in the Ohio-Kentucky consortium hold a friendly competition to see who can get the most people to sign up to become organ donors.

Last year we counted at least 170 people who were involved in some way with Pete’s day. They are family and friends of Pete, his wife, his children, his siblings and us, his parents. They are the family members of those friends, people from our church and Pete’s colleagues. One participant reflected, “Today I got to help at the CAIN Angel Shop. There was so much to do we were never bored. It was a pleasure to share with staff and volunteers about Pete. They could tell how amazing he is. Thanks for this opportunity to serve.” And another: “Having Pete’s Spirit with us today was a True Blessing! Our elder was SO moved that we came to bring Christmas to her door! A lovely lady and a wonderful day. Thank You! For allowing us to take part in this annual event.”

Gathering for prayer before the meal.

In the evening, whoever can make it will gather for a soup supper to share our experiences of the day or just to catch up and remember Pete. That first year I knew we were doing this for ourselves, to help us get through a rough day. Instead of a sad day with a few happy moments, we had a happy day with a few sad moments. I said silently to Pete that day, “I should have known you would continue to serve others, even after you were gone!”

Pete’s parents, Peggy and Kevin, hold a picture of Pete.

If you are interested in being part of Pete’s Service Day, go to the service day website. You can find an explanation of all of the projects as well as a sign-up page. There are many ways to participate like decorating elderly people’s Christmas trees, rehabbing, or volunteering at Matthew 25 Ministries.

Or you can do your own service and dedicate it to someone you have loved who is no longer with you. We love to hear those stories and see photos which can be posted on the service day Facebook page. You will have to join the page in order to see all the information and images.