Peter Emerson Shuler

Peter Emerson Shuler, beloved husband of 61 years to Judy Ann (Brown) Shuler, passed away on January 5, 2026, at Middlesex Hospital with his family by his side. He was 86.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, on December 6, 1939, he was the son of Robert Stowe Shuler and Alice Elizabeth (McCaghey) Shuler. He attended Durham schools and Kents Hill Preparatory School in Maine. Peter attended Dean Junior College in Franklin, Massachusetts, where he was voted New England’s Most Valuable Player for soccer. After Dean, he earned a B.S. degree in 1964 from Rio Grande College in Ohio, where he continued his athletic career on the baseball field and met Judy, with whom he would share 61 years of marriage. He went on to receive his Master’s degree in History from Eastern Kentucky University in 1965.

Peter devoted 30 years to teaching history at North Branford HS, a career he truly enjoyed. He was also a highly successful basketball and soccer coach for both girls’ and boys’ teams. He coached girls’ basketball for 17 years at Westbrook High School, where the team won eight state championships during the 1980s, including six consecutive titles, and held a 62-game consecutive winning streak, which remains a Connecticut record.

Peter was a three-time National Coach of the Year finalist and a three-time Region I Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Connecticut Girls Basketball Hall of Fame and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and was the recipient of numerous coaching and service awards, including the Gold Key Award.

Peter and Judy were married in Ohio in 1964. Residing in Durham, Connecticut, they raised their three children: Timothy of Durham, Holly of Durham, and Gregory and his wife, Nellie, of Henderson, Nevada. In addition, he was the proud grandfather of two grandchildren, Isabella and Rebecca Shuler of Henderson, Nevada.

Services will be held Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown. Calling hours will be from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Burial will be private. A reception will follow. Details will be shared with family and friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lustgarten Foundation (pancreatic cancer research) or the Durham Volunteer Fire Company.  To share memories or send condolences to the family please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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