Peter Johnson

Peter Edward Johnson died in his home on December 19, 2014 in Mandeville, Louisiana and went to Heaven to be with his Creator. He was 37.

Peter was born on September 22, 1977 in Covington, LA, to his parents, Claiborne and Jane (Andy) Johnson. He graduated from Mandeville High School in 1996.

Peter had a passion for cooking and felt most at home in the kitchen. In a career that spanned more than 20 years, he worked as a chef, caterer, and kitchen manager for several New Orleans and North Shore restaurants. Contemporary New Orleans seafood dishes were his specialty, though he drew inspiration from an eclectic mix of global cuisines.

Kayaking was perhaps Peter's favorite pastime, and he could often be found paddling on the local rivers and bayous or riding the waves along the gulf coast. Peter also loved music and literature. He was a gifted guitar player, songwriter, and poet. He was also an avid reader, having read thousands of books, with his main interests in history and fiction. Friends and family admired his devotion to a life-long pursuit of self-education. He enjoyed in-depth discussions on a variety of subjects, from the history of the French Quarter to the lore of the Knights Templar to the subtle differences among fine wines of a given region.

Peter embraced reasonable and logical thinking. He dismissed all things superficial and artificial in society, but sought truth in the lessons of history, the possibilities of science and philosophy, and the beauty of nature and art. Peter detested social injustice and spurned those who were prejudiced. For those he esteemed, he rewarded with friendship. His friends cherished that gift, for they found out that friendship with Peter was boundless, was unwavering. Indeed, one who knew him best once noted that Peter was the most "fiercely loyal" friend he had ever known.

Peter is survived by a son, Mason Kester; his mother, Andy; two brothers, Andrew and Jacob; his sister-in-law, Cristine; his nephew, Liam; two nieces, Morgan and Cora; and his grandfather, Harry E. Jones.

Services will be private, but an informal memorial will be held in the Mandeville area. His brother Jacob Johnson (504-376-5537) or friend Jon Steele (504-575-7104) can be reached for details.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior project ( http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ ).