Peter K. Good
Peter — Chester Kenneth Good’s obituary begins with his own words, dictated on his Bed of Liberation:
Jan: “My good man, what do you have to say about your good life?”
Sparrow: “Peter Good, born in 1942, South End of Hartford, attended Bulkeley High School and the School of Fine Arts at UConn where he met Jan Cummings, his lifetime partner. Together they created numerous works of art, prints, books. They served the community. They’ve always believed that graphics could express the Common Good. That’s it. You can do anything you want with it.” To which we add the following:
A world-famous designer and artist — Creator of the most enduringly iconic Hartford Whalers logo and countless other designs acknowledged by all the major graphic design organizations and design periodicals globally and included in the collections of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the Library of Congress, The Museum fur Kunst und Gerwerbe, Hamburg, the Neue Sammlung Museum Munich, and the Museum of Modern Art, Toyama, Japan, among others.
A mentor and inspiration for so many — Great men are not always good men, but Peter Good is known by his friends and family, local community and within the larger design world as singular for his kindness, generosity and support for everyone who got to know him. In the wake of his departure, witnesses are appearing from the woodwork to testify to his loving impact and creative inspiration. His particular mixture of brilliance and kindness touched the hearts of so many struggling to find themselves and unfold their gifts. Sparrow is a true legend of design and art and love.
A dedicated husband and creative partner — Peter was married to Janet Cummings Good for almost 58 years. Together, Peter emphasizes, they engaged in a dynamic creative partnership from their days in art school to running the award-winning Cummings & Good design studio in the iconic building they renovated and ran, to their many personal creative projects they enjoyed in their professional retirement at their art and cat-filled home in Chester. Jan will continue their work together in sharing the treasury of their artistic legacy.
An incredible father and guide — Peter and Janet raised two sons, Justin and Jesse, offering them a blessed life of art and philosophical stimulation and unconditional love, guided by his wise and loving goal of wanting them to know who they are. His extended family now includes Justin’s partner Jennifer Taylor, and Jesse’s partner Mirna Martinez and their two children Olive and Mateo.
His inspiration and example continue to support them with gentleness and intellectual provocation, all fused together into a sly smile and mysterious wink.
A mysterious and funny poem — Peter left his body at home surrounded by his family, without fear or regret or judgment of any kind. He used the occasion of his imminent departure to release his Inner Light, modeling with humor and grace, the inexplicable potential for “death” to become an opportunity for Healing and Truth and Liberation. Bringing his poetry into the deepest challenge of living inside a body, he left us with the reassurance, from One who is in the Space to Know, that Love will Prevail. “I know we will be together. I don’t know how I know, but I do.”
A gathering to share remembrances of Peter will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at the Chester Meeting House.