Obituary: Peter W. Vanace, M.D.
Vanace will receive an officer’s honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Wednesday, August 16 at 3 p.m. All are welcome.
Peter W. Vanace, M.D., formerly of Haddonfield, passed away at the age of 95.
Vanace was born in Atlantic City but spent most of his life in Albany, New York. Immediately following graduation from high school, he enlisted for active duty in World War II, Army Air Corp, Eighth Air Force with 33 combat missions over Europe as a B-17 Lead Navigator. He was awarded the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.
Following his discharge from the service, he received a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from Syracuse University and medical degree from Albany Medical College with a two-year internship at Albany Hospital. He completed his pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He then accepted a fellowship and received N.I.H. grants in pediatric cardiology and pathology at CHOP while also serving as Medical Director of Camden Municipal Hospital and later, The Children’s Seashore House of Atlantic City.
A fellowship in pediatric rehabilitation and physical medicine at Temple University/Moss Rehab Hospital in Philadelphia followed. He then went in to clinical practice and teaching pediatric development and rehabilitation at Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia including consultation for special needs children with the Philadelphia, Camden and Trenton school districts and a number of public and private school Child Study Teams in central and southern New Jersey.
Upon retirement from academic and private practice, Vanace pursued a continuing career as an artist, along with the restoration of a 300 year old historic stone house in Glen Mills, Pa. where he resided before moving to Linwood where he was a resident for 12 years. He continued to develop his painting skills with a particular interest in still life, landscapes and portraits. In addition, teaching medical students and resident physicians the basics of understanding and creating art, in particular, negative and positive spaces, composition and color values was a rewarding experience in helping these students to develop their skills of truly ‘seeing’ a patient.
Through his artwork, Vanace hoped to demonstrate the importance of art in the development of children and understanding of parents, classroom teachers and physicians as well as the power of art in human development and healing. He truly lived his life with passion.
A devoted father to Scott D. Vanace (predeceased) of Hallandale Beach, Flor., Leslie Akers (Ray) of Sewell, Jeff Vanace (Patrice) of Linwood and Nancy Vanace of Linwood. Vanace was also a proud grandfather of Raymond and Alexander Akers of Sewell and Rachel and Adriane Vanace of Linwood. He is also survived by many loving and cherished friends.
Vanace will receive an officer’s honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Wednesday, August 16 at 3 p.m. All are welcome.
