Robert Newton Peck
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Robert Newton Peck | |
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| Born | Robert Newton Peck February 17, 1928 Ludlow, Vermont, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | American  |
| Period | 20th century |
| Genre | Young adult literature |
Robert Newton Peck (born February 17, 1928) is an American author who writes young adult novels. His works include Soup and A Day No Pigs Would Die.
Early life
| This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (January 2014) |
Peck claims his birth date to have been February 17, 1928, but refuses to specify his birthplace. It is believed to be Ticonderoga, New York, where he spent his early years with his mother, Lucille Dornburgh Peck, and aunt Caroline Dornburgh.[1] [2]
He attended Ticonderoga High School. His only verified Vermont connection, which Peck hints as his real birthplace, comes from his father, who was born in Sunderland, Vermont.
Peck served in World War II as a machine-gunner in the U.S. Army 88th Infantry Division.[citation needed] After he returned to the United States, Peck entered Rollins College, graduating in 1953. He then entered Cornell Law School, but failed to complete his studies.
Writing
Peck published his first novel, A Day No Pigs Would Die, which was a semi-autobiography of his childhood, in 1972 at the age of forty-four. To date, his credits include fifty-five novels, six nonfiction works, thirty-five songs, three television specials and over one hundred poems.
Personal life
He married Dorothy Anne Houston and fathered two children: Anne and Christopher. The best man at the wedding, and the godfather to the children, was Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame.[citation needed]
In 1984, Peck was sued by Mary Jo Wardlaw, an Erskine College student, for outrageous conduct causing severe emotional distress and slander, for comments he made during a convocation speech at the college (318 S.E.2d 284, S.C.App., 1984). A South Carolina appeals court upheld a $24,000 jury verdict against Peck for slander on the theory that when Peck cast aspersions upon Wardlaw's chastity, his public remarks were slanderous per se.[3]
In 1993, Peck was diagnosed with oral cancer, but overcame the disease.[citation needed] As of 2005, he lived in Longwood, Florida with his wife.[4]
References
- ^ "Robert N Peck in household of Caroline Dornburgh", United States census, 1930; Ticonderoga, Essex, New York; roll T626 1438, page 6A, line 24, enumeration district 29, Family History film 2341173. Retrieved on 20 Feb 2018.
- ^ "Robert N Peck in household of Caroline Dornburgh", United States census, 1940; Ticonderoga, Essex, New York; roll T627 2533, page 5A, line 1, enumeration district 16-33. Retrieved on 20 Feb 2018.
- ^ Court of Appeals of South Carolina (May 25, 1984). "Wardlaw v. Peck, 318 S.E.2d 270 (S.C. Ct. App. 1984)". Court Listener. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ [1] Archived November 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
External links
- Official website
- Robert Newton Peck at Library of Congress, with 64 library catalog records
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