My mom, Patricia reminded me that while Peter WAS fun and games, that wasn't the only thing that we did with him. And, it's true. While we can remember the great playful times, we also remember the curious, intellectual side of Peter.
His apt was always filled with books, maps, photos, articles on everything from Philosophy, to Russian literature, to learning to make typefaces, to photos of Iceland -- he was forever learning and educating people about what he read.
Some of his interests were:
* The Study of Languages - Romance languages versus Slavic languages
* The Roots of words
* Iceland - both wanting to live there and the customs of the people of Iceland
* Russian dictators
* Politics
* Art: Sculpting, drawing, painting
* Photography
* Typography
* How the brain works
* Autism
* Comedic Timing
* Astronomy
* Science
* Math
* Religion
When he would travel and then come home or call us, he would talk about these things. He wasn't necessarily a debater, but he liked to find all sides to a subject and then talk about the negative and positive affects and details of the subject matter.
He was very interested in the birth and death of living things ... like trees and their leaves. He would get into conversations with me about the beauty of death (from a nature point of view) and how the changing of the leaf colors were actually the beauty of death. The leaves were dying, but still we found beauty in their death.
So, if you can imagine a person who knew how to laugh, enjoyed a good joke (at your expense or his), was an intellectual, was incredibly creative and could discuss both sides of any story, that was Pete for most of his life.
His beauty and creativity was unmatched. His heart was always in the right place. His mind was astonishing.
We Miss Him
Very touching entry - a unique man and astonishing mind - what I feel also in his music - it is very special to have someone like him around and so hard to accept the void. I feel with you by being only a fan & thank you for sharing your precious memories of Pete with us. Love & strength to all of your family. Sabine, Vienna, Austria
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this! RIP Peter..
ReplyDeleteI very much agree with you."His beauty and creativity was unmatched. His heart was always in the right place. His mind was astonishing. " truer words have never been spoken. He was absolutely amazing inside and out. Truly a gift.
ReplyDeleteLove this piece. Thank you x
ReplyDeletePETER'S WAY WITH WORDS ALWAYS ASTONISHED ME. LIKE IN HIS LYRICS. HE SEEMS TO BE A VERY DEEP THINKER. A PHILOSOPHER OF SORTS. HE COULD HAVE BEEN A TEACHER AND BEEN VERY GOOD AT IT. I LOVE THE FACT THAT HE SHARED THE THINGS HE KNEW WITH PEOPLE AND GOT THEIR OUTLOOKS OR BELIEFS ON A SUBJECT. HE IS AN AMAZING MAN. THE TOTAL PACKAGE. GOD BROKE THAT MOLD WHEN PETER THOMAS RATAJCZYK WAS CREATED.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS FOR SHARING ONCE AGAIN. I LIKE TO KNOW THE SOFTER SIDE OF PETE TOO. :)
p.s. i absolutely loooooove this pic of pete you used. *heavy sigh*
ReplyDeleteWonderful topics of discussion. His interests were so varied. RIP Peter
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful that peter had so many interest. Most people don't have a lick of interest in anything at least not any that is of educational value. I had a teacher that would say....Feed The Brain. She would tell me your brain is like a sponge/filling cabinet it will soak up and file as much info that you allow your brain to consume.... it's never ending. She would also say that reading is good for the soul. I love reading all these stories about your family and the memories you have with peter. Very interesting thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteby reading his lyrics i always felt he was alot brighter than he let on to the media,even his jokes were "smart" lol i know you all miss him very much,and we the fans miss himm more and more as we learn from you-the family just how "human" of a being he was. R.I.P. PETER...
ReplyDelete-erik hernandez-
There never has been and never will be another like Pete. He poured himself into his music and gave himself to his fans. His intelligence shown through in everything he did. Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful man with a beautiful mind... My eleven year old son has Autism and to hear Pete had an interest in the condition warms my heart : ) What I would have given to have know Pete and had a glimpse into his world....words fail me...I just love him....x
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful picture and so fitting for the beautiful man I read about here. Thank you so much for all that you share. I still feel like the wind was knocked out of me, I can't even imagine what it must be like for his loved ones.
ReplyDeleteThinking of him and you, always! <3
What a brilliant man. It's such a shame I never crossed paths with him. I feel the lack of musical, and artistic genius every day. The world is a lesser place with out him. Thank you to all of your family members who take part in this blog. It is such a gift for us fans in ways you guys may never know. It's yet another way Peter, and Type O is set a side from other people in the music industry. To see that his family, has such a bond to his fans, and share his connection to us is such a blessing. Again thank-you for your words, and stories. And most of all, thank you for each of you parts in shaping the life of our beloved Peter (Steele) Ratajczyk.
ReplyDeleteSharing your love and stories of Peter with us is such an amazing gift. THANK YOU so much!!! I hope the knowledge of how much he was loved and respected by his fans helps you in some way.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued that he was interested in learning of Autism, since I have two autistic boys.
ReplyDeletea true renaissance man
ReplyDeleteEvery day, always. Thanks for keeping him alive for us. One of my favorite things about him was his hands. They remind me of my dad's hands. My dad was also left-handed. Now I miss them both.
ReplyDeleteWhat a touching entry - again thank you so much for sharing these memories with us the fans - it is such a great gift and somehow I hope this communication helps you also a little bit. With his music he gave so much and now you give so much to us. The list of interests is rather impressive - knowing a little bit of Romance and Slavic languages since growing up in Austria - very different and difficult languages too. And so many other interests - it shows that Peter was always developing and up to my experience that's so important in life - I guess you heard and learned a lot from your uncle, which is very precious. The picture is beautiful plus I love the Coyote ;-)
ReplyDeletePeter is really missed in so many ways. All the best to all of your family & thank you once more for your share.
Sabine, Austria
Loved this story it's great to hear that he was so interested in all of those things. Thank you for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing and having this blog to begin with! Were it not for Peter and Type O Negative, 99% of the people in my life that I love would not be. I have made life long friends, no, family because of them/him.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Every single day, thank you Peter and Type O Negative.
Peter has such a magnetic personality. It seems as though his time here was not enough. I can't imagine how many people he could have healed just by meeting them.
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