Gloucester - Peter Cooney, son of the late Matthew W. Cooney, Jr. and Jean P. Cooney, passed away at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital of multiple organ failure on January 2. He attended Rockport public schools, North Adams State and Salem State Colleges. He held various sales postitions. His favorite field was stereo equipment. His interests included cars, photography, theater and travel. Peter traveled extensively over his life, including Italy, Hawai'i, Greece, France,England, Scotland, Wales, Portugal, Turkey, and Egypt. He especially enjoyed going to London to see plays with his mother.

He volunteered at the North Shore Health Project and helped to establish Gloucester's Dog Park. Dogs were always a part of his life. He found good friends on Wingaersheek, Good Harbor, and Crab Beaches.

Peter is survived by his siblings Martha Cooney, Claire Cooney and her husband Ron DeRocher, Matthew Cooney and his wife Jen, all of Gloucester, and Carol O'Connor and her husband Tim of Rockport, Kate Tardif, also of Gloucester and her brothers John "Polo" Cooney and Michael Cooney. He is also survived by his nieces Meredith Cooney and Jessica Sullivan and nephews Ethan Cooney, Matthew Cooney, his wife Grace, and children Lyla and Zina as well as first cousins Sheila Hardwick, Michael Carrigan, and Paul Carrigan, and many Cooney cousins. In addition, he leaves his partner Jared Doran. He also leaves behind treasured friends Diane Main, Edward Hanson and Tom Fagan.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.