Peter Chai
(1967 - 2009)

"Peter was a wonderfully warm, loyal, kind and creative man - a real friend in a world where that is said too easily and usually means too little.

He will be missed by many, many people lucky enough to have known him over the years.

Dan"

"I will miss my dear friend Peter. A person who meant so much to so many. I extend my deepest condolences to the Chai family and to all who loved him."

"Hello ,Charlene . I'm sorry for your brother's passing and all my prayers go to you and your family at this sensitive time.Blessings to your brother on his new journey and to you and the rest of your family."

"Peter's energy and optimism was inspiring. He was a generous and caring soul who took care of his friends. He will be greatly missed and is a model for all of us.

My deepest sympathy to the Chai family.

Jack "

"Blessings to Peter and his family in this time of celebration of a life that may have ended earlier than many would have wished, but then we never know what beauty lays ahead. So wishes for a peaceful journey and much love to the family. Miss you Charlene. We embrace you. Carol, Ron, Max and Chase"

"Peter's enthusiasm and zest for life and all that is worth living and pursuing was amazing, enlivening and inspiring. He leaves us/this world a plainer place to be. My deepest sympathy to the Chai family..

Elaine"

"Peter was amazingly creative, brilliantly strategic, steadfastly loyal, painfully hilarious (especially if you were on the receiving end of his jokes), and all of us who were close to him were always wrapped in a great bear hug of caring, generosity and love. It fills and breaks my heart knowing that Peter was always a better friend to me than I ever was, or could be, to him. We will all miss his stories, his laughter, and most of all, just Chai being Chai. Chairules forever."

"I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the Chai family. Peter was loved by everybody and was a trusted friend and mentor. This news really makes me sad as I realize I never got to spend enough time with him.

Peter, God bless you and may he watch over you until we meet again.

Michael
"

"Dear Chai Family,

I was very saddened to hear about Peter's passing. He was someone that really lived every day to the fullest. While I know that words are only a small gesture of support, I want you to know that his spirit and example has touched many people's lives as it has mine. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

My deepest sympathy and love to you and yours,
Ryan
"

"My heart goes out to Peter's family for the loss of their beloved but he remains a part of everything. Charlene, Annette, Sungji, Nona, Emma. I embrace you. Love always, Vicky."

"Just a few week ago Peter, Forchi and I were at Peter’s country club in Scottsdale, Arizona playing golf and having the time of our lives. Teasing each other at every opportunity including missed golf shots. Peter had injured his calf muscle prior to the round, never a quitter; Chai limped and fought his way through 18 holes. It was hilarious to watch. Peter was a great friend, a fierce competitor and had simply one speed. –Go Chai or go home……

BL
"

"I'm going to miss my Uncle Peter so much. I remember all the times he invited us to stay with him and had so much fun. I love him more than I can say. Good-bye Uncle Peter, I hope you know how much we miss you."

"I loved my Uncle Peter so much. Thank you for the video games you gave us. You were a great and a nice Uncle. We loved you a lot. Thank you for inviting us on vacation in Arizona. Hugs to my cousins Nona and Emma."

"To the Chai family, please accept my deepest condolences. Just know that Peter will always be with all of us, and that we can draw inspiration from the life that he lived to the absolute fullest.

It's hard to put into the words the essence of Chai. He was a trusted friend, a loyal mentor, a great teacher and in possession of one of the sharpest intellects I know. What set him apart though was the love he had for his friends and family and how that feeling was always mutual.

Till we meet again my friend...

Todd"

"Charlene,
I feel such energy and light coming from your brother. I sense him jumping among clouds and offering help to those that can't quite "get to that level."
Thank you for this beautiful portrait of Peter. It is very moving.
Dennis"

"Peter will be remembered by us all as an inspirational light - kind, understanding and patient. He integrated his personal and professional life with the goal of getting the most out of each and every day. He had a unique brand of sincerity and energy around his professional life - deeply caring about his clients and their needs. He inspired all of his co-workers to work hard and produce for clients while enjoying every minute on the job.

His final professional tour taking him to Asia has capped a fascinating journey - I can only hope that it was fulfilling for he and his family.

I fondly remember his enthusiasm for golf. I go back to when getting the ball air-born was a challenge for him and I see Peter trundling through cactus and underbrush in Arizona enthusiastically looking for his ball. He stuck with it and as everyone knows became a great golfer.

Peter ... I hope you find lush fairway lies on your journey!!!!


"

"Please accept my most sincere condolences on the loss of Peter. Peter infected us all with is wonderful creativity and energy. He always made you feel welcome with his graciousness and I am fortunate to have known him."

"I will always remember Peter as a friend and mentor. He had such an
amazing spirit; I will miss him very much. My thoughts and prayers go
out to his family, whom he always spoke so fondly of."

"Like all of you, I am shocked and saddened by our loss.

They say that only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile and I can testify that Peter lived a truly worthwhile life and his life was filled with people who loved him to prove it. He was a great friend to many, was not just a leader but mentored and cared for his co-workers throughout his successful career and most of all, he loved his family very much.

I will miss him dearly and may he find lasting peace.

Peter"

"Peter, my friend, you left too early and I didn't get a chance to say goodbye. I will always remember you for the fervor you had in everything you would do, your passion for your work, your enthusiam and love you expressed spending time with your family and friends, and the pleasure you were getting by teaching us and mentoring us.

My heart now goes out to your family. Please accept my most sincere condolences.

Peter, we will never forget you, especially your glasses and your smile!

Dimitri"

"I feel an immense sense of grief at hearing this news. I had the honor of having drinks with Peter last year in Tokyo and had some great laughs. This loss is sad for his friends and the larger business community he was so much a part of. I will remember him always.
Anuj"

"Peter was more than a professional acquaintence, he was my friend. Peter was hardworking, caring, thoughtful and bright. Life is always too short and I wished that we all had more time to spend with Peter. I will miss him and he will forever be in my thoughts. My condolences to the Chai family."

"My thoughts and prayers got out to Annette, the girls and the entire Chai family. Peter was such a wonderful soul who will be remembered fondly by us both. We miss him very much and will miss the generous and warm spirit he shared with us all. May he rest in peace. "

"Peter --

You are one of my best friends and I will miss you dearly. I will never forget the good (and rough) times we had together and everything that you have done for me. I especially fondly recall all the conversations we had about life, what we want out of it, and what it all means. Although I am younger, you treated me as an equal, both as a friend and colleague.

I wanted to share a few stories that stick out in my mind about Peter, even though I could go on and on for days:

-"Encouraging" me to eat a 48 oz steak at the DaimlerChrysler closing dinner and starting a betting pool. This is after watching me eat a Wendy's lunch and 3 lobster tails. Needless to say, the Daimler guys were not impressed, but the Chrysler guys of course loved it! Of course, Chai bet on me, and we won.
-Insisting to me that mononucleosis was a "mental" state and therefore not an actual sickness and that I had to "power through" the pain. Peter ended up sending 3 analysts/associates to the hospital on Project Tiger
-Once Peter learned that I love 1980s music, he took the time to burn a customized "Chai 1980s" CD for me
-Having "914 I AM CHAI" on his Morgan Stanley business card
-Hanging out (constantly) with the entire team at Hurleys
-Hosting my friends and myself at his house in Tokyo, and then showing us the local sushi and yakatori spots
-Insisting to me that he is, indeed, a very well-dressed man, and that I should aim to imitate his sartorial elegance.

I will miss you buddy...my thoughts are with you and your family.
"

"Peter, It's hard to believe we've known each other since you were a skinny 11 year old playing tennis behind our house. Through the years our relationship has changed from your being Sungji's little brother to a man I humbly call a friend.

Thank you for your sound advice and boundless enthusiasm. (No matter what time of the day or night I called you always helped with computer problems.) Thank you for all the shared vacations, the late night gaming sessions, the holidays celebrated and the meals shared. Thank you for the support you've given over the years to us during births ... and deaths.

I keep flashing to mental pictures of you: playing dungeons & dragons in Jermyn, on the curb outside your apartment at Cornell, visiting in New York City during a Christmas snow, your wedding to Annette (a beautiful day), walking the sand dunes at Kitty Hawk, your presence and support during the births of our children, you holding Nona and Emma as babies... it hurts to remember. So many pictures, so many good memories.

Peter, in every sense of the word you were a gentle man. I will miss you greatly brother and friend. Godspeed.

Annette, Nona and Emma our thoughts and love are with you.

"

"I will always remember Peter for his passion, drive and authenticity. The world has truly suffered a loss at his passing.

To The Chai Family, please know that you will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Brownie & Stephanie"

"Like so many others, I will forever be grateful to have known Peter. He was a generous friend and mentor; a truly good man.

To the Chai family, please accept my deepest sympathies."

"Dear Peter,
We will always remember your enthusiasm for life, your generosity of spirit, your loyalty to friends, your sharp intellect and curiosity, that mischievous chuckle, and a deep love for your family. My parents, Chester and Hannah, are grateful they were able to visit with you, Annette, Nona, and Emma this past spring in Tokyo. They recall that you were so happy and excited to tackle the next, new chapter in your life. Please rest in peace, knowing that you leave behind an amazing, strong family and friends all over the world, who feel blessed to have known you. You will live forever in our hearts and memories. Love always.
Sandy Lee (sister-in-law) and Joe Rella (husband)"

"Peter was an incurable optimist. I’m grateful for his knowledge, drive and guidance, but most of all, for his ability to make work fun. He always knew when to drop pencils and order dinner – or head out for karaoke.

We worked many long days on some tough projects, but we always had fun. Regardless of the challenge, he would always smile, or maybe giggle. I miss him.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences,

Alex"

"Peter has been a friend for about 10 years now. It feels like it's been forever, as I have had to constantly re-live his tall tales of the old days and his war stories from the recent, many of which I was involved in. Funny thing is, when you hear the stories enough times, they tend to crossover each other, connect in various ways, mix in location of event, and skew in any numerical fashion which reflects on the fact that Peter has way too good friends, way too many great memories and really just loves a laugh with everyone.

Peter has been an older brother, in both my personal and professional life. His friendship extended deep into my family and is undeniably present in our daily lives. He has coached me through the toughest times of my life, yet shared with me the greatest. I'm sure this is not unique to me as he's touched the lives of many many others.

His spirit in life will be something I advocate forever. His "go big or go home" motto that we have experienced in and out of the workplace was probably the key to his success. However, recently he just wanted to create an organization of close friends and family that could truly enjoy the fruits of life, working and relazing together. "Family and friends first" was obviously his underlying motto in life, but it possessed a hard sugar coating of "go big or go home" that took years to remove.

Peter, I will remember you most for:
1) your ability to awkwardly break the ice with a terrible joke and that smirk of yours and your funny china-man goatee;
2) your interesting ability to pick a fight with a moving van;
3) your ability to order 3x the necessary Korean food;
4) your weak punches that I easy dodged and returned back to you;
5) your ability to only eat spicy tuna rolls at the best sushi restaurant in Tokyo;
6) your love for your family, your friends and your colleagues;
7) your generosity and leadership;
8) your drive and vision.

Thank you for a great 10 years, a lifetime worth of lessons and goals that we must now try to put to use and chase.

May you find peace my brother."

"Peter was one of the most creative and upbeat, optimistic people I have ever known. In the face of adversity, Peter would smile and, more importantly, make others around him smile. He could both lead and be one of the gang. He never used negative tactics, always staying positive. When someone told him 'no', he would still find a way to get to 'yes'. He was soft spoken, honest, funny, genuine, and will be sorely missed."

"I was a friend of Peter over 20 years ago in college and learned recently of his passing through a mutual friend. We shared some funny, memorable moments which to this day I still recount to my wife and friends. I lost touch with him after graduation, although I did run into him once or twice in New York. I haven't seen or talked to him in over a decade but was still pretty shaken when I learned what happened. I always remembered Peter because there was a decency about him that I don't see in a lot of people. I always remember the few time I ran into him in New York, he greeted me like I was one of his closest friends. He gave his friendship genuinely, unconditionally, and without pretense, and I think that's why I remember him so fondly. My prayers and condolences to Peter's family."

"Peter

Where do we even begin? There is heaviness in our hearts as one of the great sparks of life is now elsewhere,in a better place....but selfishly we all wanted you right here for far more time! We miss you so Peter.

Peter you will remain with us in so many ways. You have left your unique impact on all. We do not remember days...but moments. And the Peter Chai moments are etched in everyone's souls and lives.

There is no forgetting you Peter. Your optimism, your spirit, your values, your loyalty, your love of family and friends, your creativity, your laugh...your lust for life. All of these will stay on with each of us to remember you by, and to inspire us in our own lives. Peter you live on through your family, your friends and the huge and personal impact you have made by touching the lives of so many. From work,to helping out a friend in need; from proudly and lovingly speaking of your girls and wife, to rallying the troops in down times and reminding everyone to remember the important things in life...the Peter legacy lives on! And so does our love for you, Annette, Nona, Emma and your entire family.

The Peter spirit lives on in us all.

With love to your family

Gail"

"My sincere condolences go out to the Chai family.

It was a true pleasure to have known Peter and worked with him. We worked through many difficult issues over the years and he always approach each problem in a thoughtful manner and he always led with his big heart. He cared deeply about his colleagues and truly wanted everyone who worked for him to succeed. He took his role as a mentor and manager very seriously, but he was also able to add levity and laugh at himself during difficult times. He was a gentle soul and he will be missed.

My thoughts are prayers are with his family."

"Friends,

I remember the weekend at Cornell when Pete, Annette, and I visited Pete's parents house in Scranton. That was the weekend, Peter and Annette fell in love.

I remember the night in Hoboken, NJ, when we went to Aurthur's steak house where we polished off 36 ounce steak and 5 liters (that's right, liters) of beer per person.

I remember renting out an indoor tennis court and playing tennis until three in the morning.

I remember bringing back batches of chicken wings to the low rise dorm and having Pete be first in line.

I remember Pete and Annette's beautiful wedding ceremony.

I remember Pete punching holes through walls when he gets upset.

I remember wrestling with Pete.

Most of all...I remember Pete being Pete.

Your friend,

Dan Roh"

"Peter has been a mentor, friend and inspiration in many ways. He squeezed every last drop out of life and pushed those around him to do the same. As mentioned by so many, his motto of "Go Chai or Go Home" was backed up his fearless dedication to making each moment count whether it be in his personal life or professional career.

As my first manager out of college, Peter certainly had me hustle, face sleep deprivation and learn a ton, but it never felt like work because we had so much fun along the way.

I have many gems of pure comedy involving Peter - a few of my favorites:
- After working for months on Project Tiger (yes, the infamous project during which Will Shu developed mono and subsequently "fled" to London, Cyril Moulin was hospitalized with advanced strep throat, Peter Holik was covered in rashes from shingles and I spent a night in the ER after a concussion), Peter took me to my first karaoke session to celebrate. I dedicated "I'm a Slave for You" to him. He dedicated "Have a Little Faith in Me" to me.
- He taught me how to use chop sticks, drop a sake bomb, haggle with lucite vendors, "think not process", never let a client see you sweat (all bankers should use clinical strength deodarant during recessions) and how to catch a flight at JFK from 1585 Broadway in less than 30 minutes (a whole lot of running, tipping cab drivers Rockefeller style and negotiating with security guards)
- On the eve before a very important meeting, Peter missed not one, but two flights in a row because he was having so much fun at the AIRPORT (of all places!) with a colleague and clients. He had the uncanny ability to make any place / any event / any time feel like an exclusive party. He raced through the Detroit airport terminal three times, spent 4 hours in cramped coach seating on a red eye and still won the deal mandate the next day in NYC.

Peter lived his life out loud and made the kind of memories that could last a few lifetimes. I am honored to have known him and send my thoughts and prayers to his family."

"I am so glad I was able to see Peter recently, share stories about old times and dreams of the future. His face lit up when he talked about his family and the good times they shared traveling. He was so proud of Annette, the girls and happy to be spending more time with them!

He just recently wrote me an email regarding his health and promising to “start a new routine right away. One step at a time.” I threatened to call Annette in Tokyo and I sure wish I did.

*My all time favorite memory of Peter is when he brought in his camera into work and was “bragging and showing off” Nona (just a toddler) singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. We all laughed and thought she was a genius.
*So excited and proud when Annette got her doctorate and when she started her paper/invitation business.
*When he hid my pocketbook at a work dinner so I wouldn’t and couldn’t leave early!
*Being very upset with me after I got into a car accident. He bellowed that I need to be more cautious and stomped away.
*The day I left Morgan Stanley and I felt like I was getting divorced (without the alimony!).

Annette, I am so sorry for interrupting every family vacation you two shared with work calls and the endless urgent messages. You were an amazing and supportive wife and he loved you dearly every single day .

Peter was a great boss, friend and a funny guy. I am lucky to have worked side-by-side with him for over 6 years. His enthusiasm for work was contagious. Everyday felt fun and we all wanted to work hard and be part of his team. He made his success feel like it was ours!

I am a better person for having known him. I love him and will miss him.

"

"My thoughts go out to Peter's beautiful family, whom I had the privilege to meet and stay with during my trip to Japan last year. I wish them strength to pull through these hard times.

I got to know Peter as an insightful, fun (hilarious actually), and genuine person. What stuck with me the most, however, was the amount of love and respect he garnered from his friends and colleagues, groups that often overlapped. As has been mentioned here before, many times, he was a great mentor as well as a great friend. Simply an overall special person, this much I could tell from the regrettably much to short period of time that I had the opportunity to spend with him, his family and friends.

Again, my condolences to the Chai family and all of Peter's friends. He will be sorely missed."

"Chai Family, please accept my heartfelt sympathy.

When I think of all the wonderful memories of Peter it is hard to imagine him gone. I remember his ingenuity, creativity, generosity, kindness, laughter, love and joy for life. He worked incredibly hard and pushed everyone around him to do the same. It was not difficult to work hard for Peter because he inspired us so. Working with Peter wasn’t just another job or project it was a fun passionate journey. He taught me how to think and not just complete tasks and to always “go big or go home”.

Most of all Peter had fun. Whether working in the office, singing karaoke or in the middle of a closing dinner, Peter could make the most mundane fun. I remember a closing dinner on the beach in LA where Peter invented a drinking game out of ring toss.

No matter what your title was or which team you were on, his door was always open. He was a great friend, amazing teacher and mentor. I am blessed to have shared some time with him. He was loved by so many. I will miss him.

Peter you are in our thoughts and prayers we love you.
"

"I love Pete. I miss him. It’s tough to write this. I’m going to ramble a bit.

I always remember Pete’s homes, probably because he was the one that always hosted everyone. The first was this apartment in Yonkers on the Hudson River. That tiny apartment had great views, and sweet Annette would graciously put up with us dirty sweaty morons time and time again. We were always amazed at how nice Annette was. She was Pete’s rock. Thank God Pete found Annette.

One day Pete, Tony and I went mountain biking on this long bike path up the Hudson. Eventually, our competitive nature kicked in, and we started racing home. Unfortunately, going over a curb, I crashed and scraped up my whole left side. When we got home, Pete cleaned and bandaged me up for another buddy's rehearsal dinner that evening. It hurt, a lot, but we had fun.

Pete was the first of us to buy a house in the suburbs. That first house had a lot of staircases. It was so comfortable. Pete always had the most comfortable couches ever. It also had a pool table, huge TV, and lots of other toys. Movies, video games, Einstein their dog, everything was there. You just sunk in that couch, and never wanted to leave. That's how things were with Pete. You just never wanted to leave.

Then he built a massive house on a hill. It was beautiful. Same thing, it had everything you could want, fully hard wired, projection TV, huge outdoor deck. But it’s not the stuff in the house that made it so warm and inviting. It was Pete’s personality and kindness. You never wanted to leave. I really miss him.

Pete was a guy’s guy. He could intimidate anyone with a stare. Never stepped down from a confrontation, sometimes to a fault. If you needed to know anything about the newest electronic gadget, Pete knew about it, probably already owned it. Cars, same thing. He was an athlete, a King on Wall Street. We would play endless hours of billiards down in Chelsea and at his house. He had a hearty laugh. I can hear it now.

He did not suffer fools gladly, but to those who needed sympathy, he had this incredible compassionate side. He had this remarkable tone of voice that could comfort anyone. It was unbelievable. He helped me through my divorce. He was so sincere, so kindhearted, so caring. He could make anyone feel better, could lift anyone's spirits.

Except when Pete was playing tennis. It was kill or be killed when it came to tennis. Sometimes I would fear for my safety out on the court. He would hit the ball harder than humanly possible, sometimes you just couldn't get out of the way.

For a bachelor party, a bunch of us rented out some indoor tennis courts. I can’t even recall who won the tournament (probably Pete), but I do know we ate, we drank, we laughed, and we played tennis, and it was awesome. Ed made the mistake of falling asleep first, and after a 15 minute chase around the whole facility, he was finally corralled, and a massive atomic wedgie was administered on him. It took all of us to do it, since Ed is really strong. He took it like a man, though, albeit in the fetal position.

The game of golf didn't start out so well for Pete. After one of his first driving range sessions, we noticed a huge indentation on the *top* of his driver, in the shape of a golf ball after a tee shot. How does that happen? Never saw that before, and we couldn’t figure it out. We laughed hysterically. Still have never figured it out. Being a natural athlete, Pete picked up the game pretty quickly.

Pete really strived to improve in golf. In one of our early rounds together, he was struggling mightily, but then at one point, hit a sweet mid-iron shot right onto the green. I said, “Pete, now that was an awesome shot.” He said “Sweet!” And for the rest of the day, he was walking on air. He liked that word. I can still hear him saying “Sweeeeet!”

One time when we were playing at Pete’s golf club, Donald Trump drove past with Mark Messier in his golf cart. Trump stopped to watch me hit my 8 iron into the 7th green, and said, “That’s a nice shot.” Me and Pete looked at eachother and just laughed. I think he probably said “Sweet” at some point too. I wish we had played more golf together.

At Morgan Stanley, Pete moved up the corporate ladder unbelievably fast. His progress was dictated by his self confidence. I saw him grow from a humble, unassuming back office guy, into a self-assured master of the universe, complete with the slicked back hair and expensive suits. Loved him.

Occasionally I used to come uptown and meet Pete for dinner and drinks. We’d talk about our latest and greatest accomplishments at work, our goals and dreams. He really loved his family. He’d talk about Nona, and all the cute things she does; and I’d wonder what it would be like when I had children of my own. His favorite dish was the seared tuna steak. Sometimes if I got there early, I’d order it for him, so it would be ready when he got there. Usually I would go home after that, and he would go back to work. He worked some massive hours.

Pete was responsible for a forcibly removed bathroom partition wall in a Mexican restaurant on Columbus Ave one night. One too many Margaritas. I think that was the same night that Tony tried climbing up the front wall of an upper west side brownstone, while Pete was convinced he could level a NYC parking meter. Steve and I were watching out for police. Pete ended up settling for one of those massive concrete planters on the street. He was massively strong.

Pete walked fast. Not exactly a fast walk, more like a jog, but not really a jog. It was his own style.

Pete and I drifted apart the past several years, after I moved out of the city, then he moved out of the area. I wish we had kept in touch better. I wish I could have spent more time with him, now that we both have families. I miss him.

The skies have been cloudy and rainy every day since the sad news, seemingly in mourning as we all are. The forecast is for clouds and rain every day for the next week or so, which is pretty weird too. The skies will eventually clear up, and the sun will shine again. But there will always be an empty place in our hearts that belongs to our beloved Pete. We are the lucky ones to have been a part of Peter’s life and should celebrate the time that Pete was on this earth, and all the joy he brought to everyone. Right now you know there are a lot of smiling people in heaven just getting to know him.


Michael Cha
Pete’s Friend
"

"Peter my dear friend,

I still remember when I first saw you....it was July of 2001 and I was in one of my first SPG group meetings in 3K and Gail mentioned that you were the new head of ABS. Little did I know that over the next few years, eventhough I never worked directly for you, we would spend so much time together...at Hurley's, playing basketball, chatting. i still remember when you made me look you in the eyes and vouch for Will Shu. I remember you thanked me for that a few months after hiring him.

It is with a heavy heart, great sadness and tremendous shock that I bring myself to write this. You were a friend, a brother and mentor. I will miss you dearly, and I will try to live my life with some of the virtues that you inspired in so many.

My most sincere condolences to your beautiful family. "

"When I think back on the endless amount of energy and the love of life that Peter had, it’s had to believe he’s gone. Peter was an amazing person, inspiring us with his generosity, humor, creativity, enthusiasm, loyalty and spirit. I will always remember him as a man with great passion, pushing himself and everyone around him to live life to its fullest. I feel lucky to have known and worked with Peter.

My deepest sympathy to the Chai family."

"Peter:

I miss you. I will always remember your smile in the middle of challenging transactions, playing DOOM at with the analysts at 4:00am and teaching me securitization in the early days. It will be hard to forget your spirit, positive outlook in life, friendship and support. Your love of family and pursuit of balance have been inspirational.

My condolences to Anette, Nona, Emma and your entire family.

Emmanuel
"

"Dear Annette, Nona, Emma, Charlene & Sungji. So sorry to hear about the sudden loss of your husband, father and brother. I have never met Peter in person, but after reading all these beautiful stories about him, I know you must miss him dearly.
Sending you a warm hug and all my love. "

"I have not seen my uncle for over five years, so I have been missing him all this time. But I did not realize how much I truly missed him until I heard of his passing last week.

Peter was my father's cousin. When I was younger, he was one of the few relatives I had who lived in America. When you live in a foreign country like that, halfway across the world from everyone else, those few family members become extremely important. I remember Peter and his family being inextricably entwined with mine, because during hard times he was someone to lean on. These are hard times, and it is difficult to accept the fact that he is no longer with us.

Even today I cannot think of Pennsylvania without thinking of Peter. Once in a while, on free weekends and holidays, my family and I would head down to his parents’ house and stay for a couple of days. It was there where I now recall bits and pieces of memory, like strips of broken film. I remember that house as being big and bright and full of love, as my uncle Peter was. I remember petting their dog Einstein on the carpeted stairs. I remember Nona, when she was only a few years old, toddling near the living room coffee table. I remember that special Christmas our families spent together. I remember seeing the card on a desk announcing the birth of his second daughter, and I remember her name- Emma Sinclair Chai. I remember looking forward to his visits.

I cannot help but regret that I was not lucky enough to see Peter one last time. Last year, I think, he visited Korea. My father came back telling us how great Peter seemed, how fit and healthy. I wondered aloud why my father had not taken me with him. At the time we dismissed the conversation with a casual “there’s always next time.” There wasn’t.

I am ashamed to say that although I do not doubt that he was someone we depended on- a lot- my memories of him are limited, because it has been so long since I last saw him. I know it will be even longer until I see him again, which is why it hurts that when I heard he passed away, the only memories I could summon of him were outdated and blurred. Ironically, at the same time they were vivid, which is how I can say that he was just that sort of person. Vivid and unforgettable.

My mother and I were talking about Peter the morning he died. We were driving down to my grandmother’s house, and whenever we talk about my paternal side of the family we somehow always end up talking about Peter. I wanted to see him again; I had so many questions to ask him. I wanted to ask him about Cornell, about his family, about how his life was now, in Japan. A few hours later we heard he died, and I realized I would never be able to ask him those questions, and I would never be able to tell him how important he was to us.

I remember how we used to marvel at how well Peter was doing at Morgan Stanley, an indication of how much his family took pride in him. I remember his name coming up again and again in conversations, an indication of how much his family loved him. I remember his mother’s tears of sorrow last Sunday, and indication of how much his family misses him.

Peter in my memory is a bright person, someone who loved his family and loved life. I am sure that has not changed, wherever he is now. Peter’s death is an unfortunate sorrow, but Peter’s life was a celebration of true happiness, of the fragility and value of life, of the meaning behind every brief, shining moment. I am sorry our lives began to grow apart. I am sorry we cannot have any new memories together. But most of all I am sorry that he had to go, right before he was about to start a new chapter of his life.

My condolences- and my mother’s and father’s- go out to Annette, Nona, Emma, Charlene, Sungji, his mother, and the rest of his family and friends who loved him. Thank you Peter, for touching the lives of each and every one of us, and I hope you know how much we wish you were here with us. We miss you, but right now, in our hearts, you are more alive than ever. And you always will be.

Yung In Chae, on behalf of Kieun Moon and Suhong Chae"

"It is still a shock to comprehend the loss of Peter, a friend and colleague for nearly 20 years. Peter was so young and with so much potential for continuing to make a difference. My condolences to the Chai family - I feel very sad for the loss of a husband, father, and brother for Annette, Nona, Emma, Sungji and Charlene.

I will always remember Peter’s tenacity in confronting challenges, his infectious energetic laughter and big hearted generosity. He will be missed.
"

"As a young person starting my career, just sitting near Peter on the trading floor was an education in the best ways to conduct business,
live life and connect with people. Peter was so much more than a boss to all that worked for him. He was a friend, a mentor, an inspiration.
Peter had so much to offer those around him and such a willingness to share. I am grateful for those years sitting next to Peter, learning how
to work and have fun doing it.

Sravan often recalls the time he was playing tennis with Peter and Peter accidentally broke his ankle. Sravan helped Peter into his Lexus
convertible coupe and drove Peter back home to Croton. Unfamiliar with the Westchester roads, the weather starting to turn worse and not
wanting to damage Peter's new car, Sravan cautiously drove the speed limit, only exacerbating Peter's pain. The taunts were endless:
- "Are you Morgan Freeman? Because, I ain't Miss Daisy!"
- "Who drives 60 in a 55?"
- "This car has 300+ horsepower and you are driving the speed limit?"
- "I'm laughing at you, but, really, I AM in pain"
- "Don't you trust me that I can talk a cop out of a ticket?"

There is a saying, "Those only live, who live for others." It takes only a cursory reading of this memorial or having spent half a second
with Peter to know that he lived his life for his family, his friends and his co-workers. In a life that was too short, did he ever live!

Our thoughts and prayers are with Annette, Nona, Emma and the rest of Peter's family.

-Betsy and Sravan Emany"

"My relationship with Peter was brief but intimate. I was introduced to the family through Charlene, and was able to spend a little time with him on the golf course, and at his lovely home in Westchester before the move to Tokyo. Some people simply make an impression on you that you never forget. Peter impressed me as a man of great capacity. The capacity not only to take care of his family, his career, but clearly many others as well. And he did it with style, grace, and a great sense of humor. I'm sure he leaves a big space in many peoples lives. My best wishes to Annette, Nona, Emma, Sungji, and Charlene."

"My heart goes out to Peter's family for their loss. I only worked NEAR Peter for 4 months at MS back in 1999, but as many of us will attest, it didn't take long once befriended by Peter Chai to love this Man. His passion for life and sense of humor were infectious. The stories are too many to even begin to express. However, they all were filled with laughs and love of life that we'll all remember him by. We'll miss you buddy. "

"I met Peter through the Morgan Stanley network when he hired me into his team in June 2006. The time that I have worked with him can only be described as one of the most enjoyable and fruitful experiences during my tenure at the firm. In this brief period, he turned out be a colleague, mentor and friend, often at the same time. Peter, thanks so much for everything. I was very excited to learn about the possibility to work again with Peter in the near future. It is difficult to realize that Peter is no longer with us. My heart goes out to his wife Annette, daughters Emma and Nona, sisters Sungji and Charlene, and to the rest of the Chai family. I shall miss Peter dearly"

"I am sorry for your loss Charlene. Peter was a fine man and I know how close you were to him. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and the entire Chai family. Ken"

"Peter was a supremely generous, altruistic and kind man. Sadly, I did not know Peter for very long, but I will never forget the support and friendship he offered me. I have never heard anyone say a bad word about Peter and I know why that is.

My deepest condolences to his family and close friends.

Holger"

"To Peter's family,

I am so sorry to hear of Peter's passing. What a great guy. Peter's spirit and passion were infectious. He was just plain fun to be with on client trips, in airports, at bake-offs and late night in the office or at Hurleys. His clients and co-workers could not avoid being captured by the "power of his positive thinking" and his success naturally followed.

All of us that worked with Peter shared in the love he had for his family and the proud father that he was. I know he will be sorely missed. Please accept my deepest sympathy. May his memory be eternal.

Dennis "

"I am deeply saddened to learn of tragic news regarding the loss of Peter. He was a person who I admired a great deal (in and out of work). Peter was a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior, no matter what. However, I will remember him foremost for being a gentle and generous soul to his family and friends. You will be very much missed my friend.


"

"Attending the services and I was struck by how many people's lives Peter touched. At one point late in the evening virtually every person in the room had gotten their job because of Peter (including me).

More so than anyone I have ever worked with, Peter took personal responsibility for developing a culture in our group. Drinks and karaoke with Peter was practically a rite of passage. Until you had come out and shown that you could laugh at yourself and have some fun, you would always struggle to fit in.

As much fun as those nights could be, I prefer to remember him bringing a drill to the office on a random Sunday to install a fiberglass backboard and rim on the 2nd floor wall because a Nerf basketball hoop just wasn't good enough. I remember him loading Duke Nukem on all the office PCs so we could all play multi-player games after hours. I remember Peter renting the elementary school gym off of 9th Ave so we could play basket ball as a group (rather than risk getting blown off the court at Basketball City or Chelsea Piers.

All of these things were designed to create a sense of team work across the entire group and a sense of family among the people who worked for Peter. These type of contributions were easily missed by people outside of the group, but will always be remembered by the people he touched.

I miss Peter and will always be grateful for his advice and friendship.
"

"There are no words to express the loss of such a great person. Annette, please accept my most heartfelt sympathy and prayers on behalf of my family. I feel as if I took for granted that Peter would always be around to talk to and I will miss him dearly. "

"I just heard the news about Peter's passing. I feel very fortunate that I knew him. He was a great person. I will miss that smile and energy. Thanks for the great times. Brent "

"Peter and I have been friends since 1993. I met Peter playing tennis when he was an Analyst at Morgan Stanley and later ended up working with Peter. Peter was an amazing guy – a great friend, father, husband, and just an all round terrific person. I’m so sad to just be hearing about this terrible news. My best wishes go out to Annette, the daughters, and the entire family.

I’ll always remember the fun weekend summer afternoons playing tennis with Peter in Westchester.

Peter – we all miss you terribly.
"

"My sincere condolences to Peter's family for their loss. I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Peter at Lehman and at Morgan Stanley. The simplest way to describe Peter is to say that he was a "great guy", he was talented and hard working professional who always cared about his colleagues, friends and familly, he will be missed."

"We were piano buddies in college. He would listen attentively to my not so perfect Pathetique and complement it so ever kindly. Peter's specialty was Debussy's Clair de Lune. He played it so wonderfully that I fell in love with Debussy ever since. I loved it so much that I ended up taking piano lessons 15 years after my cornell days just so that i can play Debussy as well. Peter was always kind, always available, and always gentle."

"I was saddened to hear of Peter's passing, and offer my deepest condolences to his friends and family. His energy, intellect and enthusiasm will be missed. May he know only peace and joy."