Pete was born in Queens NY and moved to Amityville in 1963, where he attended St. Martin of Tours Catholic School (walked 7 miles in the snow uphill both ways). He was very talented at an early age, learning to play the drums at ten years old, and loved ice hockey where he scored the legendary hat trick on his 12th birthday.

Upon moving to Merritt Island, Fl in 1972 he traded his ice skates for surfing, water skiing and boating. Pete attended Divine Mercy, Jefferson Junior High and Merritt Island High school. He always had a strong work ethic, even as a kid he had many jobs including lawn care, paper boy, construction, building seawalls, convenient store attendant, Nothing but Jeans, Cocoa Beach lifeguard, and hospital maintenance…to name a few. That work ethic stayed with him throughout his life.

After graduating from high school, Pete attended Oxford College at Emory University where he studied pre-med. However, his true calling was engineering. He moved back to Florida and attended FIT where he earned his civil engineering degree in 1982, and then his Professional Engineer license.

While attending FIT he met his wife of 41 years, Marilyn. Pete was the Rock of his family and the definition of a true Family Man. They raised and homeschooled their three children, Peter Jr, Jonathan, and Christa in a house on the shores of the Indian River. Pete was the best husband and dad in every way. He, most importantly, raised his family to follow and love Jesus, and was very involved in their lives. He coached the kids baseball, soccer, and basketball teams, never missed a swim or tennis meet, took his family on long vacations to places like Little Caymen Island, snow skiing in the best locations, fishing the Bahamas, month long field trip through California, he supported the family fishing passion by always taking the kids fishing, chartering boats, buying boats and tackle, spent afternoons and weekend towing the kids behind the ski boat wakeboarding/tubing…he did it all and always had time. Pete and Marilyn enjoyed spending the weekends gardening and home upgrades while listening to Pete’s awesome music playlist…when not with their grandkids Peter III and Kendall. A new kind of smile came across his face when he became a grandpa “Poppy”.

Pete’s engineering career began at EGG where he was awarded the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award. A special honor given to people who make outstanding contributions to flight safety and mission success. After EGG, Pete started AJT and Associates in 1988 as the VP. Pete began focusing more on building and designing Air Traffic Control Towers. This focus and passion brought him to where he is today, the President and CEO of AJT Engineering specializing in designing and building Air Traffic Control Towers. Pete built towers across the US and around the world including Egypt, Mauritania, Kwajalein, Nassau, and Marsh Harbor. He was respected and admired as a leading expert in his field and served on the board of directors for the USCTA.

Pete loved his Lord and Savior Jesus and his home was Christ centered. Pete is a brilliant man with noble character is second to none. He read three newspapers a day as well as engineering magazines. He played drums in the church band and volunteered in the production team. He is brilliant, kind, gentle, strong, generous, patient, and unselfish. Never flashy or braggadocios. Always putting his family’s needs first. About a year ago he finally bought something nice for himself… a Porche. Whether you know Pete as friend, colleague, uncle, brother, husband, dad or Poppy…you loved him.

Pete always did the right thing no matter how hard, he was never upset, never sick, always strong, and sacrificed it all for others. Pete is a blessing to us all and we will be eternally grateful for how he lived, gave and became the example of a great man for us to follow.

Pete’s family, not yet in heaven: wife Marilyn, son Peter, wife Nikki, grandson Peter III, Son Jonathan, daughter Christa, husband Brandon, granddaughter Kendall, Sister Clare, husband Danny, nieces Kelly and Sandra

A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026, at East Coast Church Merritt Island at 2:00PM. Private burial to follow in Georgiana Cemetery.

For all of you who knew and loved Pete, he would not want flowers. Please follow this link and consider a memorial contribution that will last much longer than flowers. https://petedeekslegacy.com/