A tribute to KCT founding member Peter Sargent as told by the people who knew and loved him

By Shelley Wigglesworth

Peter Edward Sargent was born January 13, 1950.  He passed away October 19, 2014, after a long battle with Younger-onset Alzheimer's disease. His obituary stated “Peter was a caring and devoted man to his family, friends, and the Kennebunkport community. His passions ran deep - music, conservation, bicycling and volunteerism. His entrepreneurial spirit resulted in the successful establishment of Cape-Able Bike Shop. Peter's heartfelt commitment to cycling put generations of people onto two wheels and left a legacy in southern Maine. Peter lived his life with a spirit of adventure, enjoying every moment of every day.”

Eight years have come and gone since Peter passed away, though memories of him are alive and well. Friends, family, and the greater community eagerly shared some of their fond memories of this man whose influence, guidance and spirit will continue to live on through them in not just memories, but in how they live their lives.

Tom Bradbury, Executive Director of KCT:

“Peter was instrumental to the success of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust. He was there to help at every turn and approached every activity with great energy, enthusiasm, an infectious optimism, and a fun-loving spirit. He was our conduit to youth in the community and an ambassador to all. We miss him terribly to this day. Our only comfort is that his memory always brings a smile.”

Theresa Lush Violette, Cape Porpoise native:

“Peter was an amazing man who was patient, kind, and fun. As a child, I always loved riding my bike, around the head of the cove to his shop or stopping by in a boat I’d tie at the back door. He was a stop-in-and-chat type of guy. There were many folks like that back in the day. If there was any way I could ‘help’ Pete, even as a 9- or 10-year-old, he would put me to work. I’d help him get new bikes out of boxes to put them together, oil chains, put bikes in storage at the end of the day, and he’d teach me as I watched intently as he fixed bikes. I tried not to get in his way. However, when too many of us locals got to playing around, he’d tell us it’s time to go. On special days he’d send us kids to Bradbury Brother’s Market to get snacks we could all have together at the shop. He helped all of us get the right bike for us! One summer when we were all into dirt biking, with his help, we made a BMX trail near his shop to race around. It took a long time to make! After work we had timed races. At that time, it was the best. Pete even invited us kids, some evenings with our parent approval, to go on bike rides with him-long rides. I treasure these memories of my childhood with him and his shop being right across the cove.”

Jane Sargent Smith, Peter ‘s cousin:

“Peter was a naturalist: eat right, get enough sleep, no alcohol, no smokes, no weed, no experimentation with chemicals. He was a Dump Parade volunteer and had the first and only bike shop on a wharf on road to Cape Porpoise. Later his Cape-able Bike Shop building incorporated wood from the old Narragansett. Peter had a great disdain for pompous asses, ostentatious disgusting wealth, liars, and cheaters. He was always there for me in every way during all my challenges. He was my hero, my trusted friend, my confidante. I miss him badly. His virtues and community respect and down Maine genuine personality will live on forever. He’s also famous for buying dozens of the circular navy-blue boxes of Danish shortbread cookies, and in lieu of Xmas cards, hand delivered every box to friends and relatives annually a few days before Xmas. I never thought I’d miss those; but to not have Peter bring one to the house, I now buy myself one and put it under the tree and think of him.”

Christopher Godin:

“Peter was the best. When my bike was stolen in high school, he financed a new one for $5- a week! He was such a good soul, but at the same time didn't put up with any disrespect. I met him when I lived in Cape Porpoise in 5th grade back in 1975. His shop was at the top of Crow Hill then. He was a mentor to young kids like me. He was a blessing to our community and is sorely missed.”

Geoffrey Dardia:

“Cape Able Bike Shop was the hub for a small group of cyclists in Kennebunkport. From the age of 9, I spent most of my days over there with my great childhood friend, Mike Pickering, helping Peter out at the shop in exchange for parts for our bikes. We worked for parts and Wink's sandwiches until we were old enough to collect a paycheck. Every day, we would ride over to Cape Able, drop our bikes on the grass and walk up the wooden ramp where we would see Peter standing at the top with his big smile, bushy beard, and his wise crack of the day. Peter was always quick witted and never missed an opportunity for a perfectly timed joke, jab, a life lesson, or some (then unappreciated) knowledge of his favorite music he listened to from his solar powered radio. Besides teaching us how to assemble and repair bicycles, Peter also taught us how to be conscious about nature and the need to preserve it. Peter was ahead of the times when it came to being resourceful and recycling. Every time I drive by the old Cape Able Bike Shop on the way to ride at Smith Preserve, I automatically reminisce about those warm, fun-filled childhood summer days in Kennebunkport with my best friends and can still picture Peter in there with a wrench in his hand, and a big smile on his face.”

Mike Pickering:

“I was one of several wayward boys who hung out at Peter’s bike shop. Much like Geoff and I, a lot of people who hung out and showed a passion for hard work and biking eventually became employed by Peter in an unofficial capacity. Peter’s no-nonsense brand of humor in concert with passion for biking left with us an instant favorable opinion of Peter. This was at an age when most grownups were overbearing and generally avoided. Peter was a father figure to a lot of us. He recounted his life experiences with us, including a lot of bands and music we were interested in at the time. There was never a time when the bike shop wasn’t full of hip and ‘alternative’ music before it became a genre. Peter allowed us to work in exchange for parts and updates to our BMX bikes. I think he allowed us to do this only because we showed the passion and drive to put in the work. He was knowingly or unknowingly teaching us life lessons. I and the ‘crew’ will be forever grateful for Peter and Cape-Able for that period of our upbringing.”

Bruce Cacho-Negrete:

“Pete was a huge influence on my life.  When we moved to Kennebunk, I was overweight, and we were dirt poor.  We were staying at a family friend’s house that was around the corner from Cape-able.    I didn’t know anyone my age, so I used to wander into his shop and look at the bikes.  I started talking to Peter and learned that we both had a deep love of baseball.  So, I started to come into the shop to talk baseball with him.  And I did it a LOT.  I have no idea how a grown man had the time and patience to talk to a chubby, grubby little 12-year-old so much, but he always found it.  Eventually, he learned that we couldn’t afford a bike.  So, he offered me one and let me work it off in the shop even though I knew NOTHING about fixing bikes.  So, I spent a few months working for him. I surely cost him money because I couldn’t even do the simplest tasks like replace a tire tube.  I think I popped like four tubes before he realized I was best off just sweeping the shop.  He also fed me lunch pretty much every day I “worked” for him.  That bike was my first step to eventually losing weight and getting healthy, which started me down the road to self-confidence.  When I got into the University of Chicago, Pete gave me a Cape-able bike bag that I brought with me to college and wore proudly on my bike there.  Sometimes, I wonder if I would have ever gotten to Chicago if Peter hadn’t shown me such kindness.  He was literally my first friend in Maine.”

Peter Philbrick:

“For many years Pete Sargent had a shop at the end of my road (Arundel Road, Kennebunkport) and was THE bike man to go to. Everyone in the neighborhood knew Pete as one of the nicest people around. He helped so many kids with bike problems and very seldom if ever charged a youngster for his services. My kids stopped there all the time and he was always willing to talk to them and help or offer advice about which bike to have or how to fix a problem.”

Gail Roller:

“Peter was a character with a heart as big as you can get. He would hand write the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust meeting minutes and get everything to fit on one sheet of paper so that he didn’t waste paper. Pete rode his bike everywhere and helped to make us all conscious of the need to conserve and recycle - he was a master at both.”

Harold Burbank:

“Peter was a speaker at my Kennebunk High School graduation. He was a philosopher at heart. He loved young people and pure ideas, not material trappings. He lived his beliefs. He was a noble soul.”

Pam Newsome, Peter’s sister:

“Peter was my quirky brother living in the woods.   At the age of 21 he made the decision to settle in Kennebunkport and do it his way.  He bought land and built his own house. He built Cape-Able Bike Shop from the ground up and mentored many local youths there, employing them and letting them ‘hang out’.  He was continually involved as a volunteer in many community efforts, absorbed in giving back to the town he now called his own.  He was a founding member of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and did almost anything they asked him to do in the over 20 years he served on the Board.  He co-chaired the 350th Anniversary of Kennebunkport.  And he loved and participated in the Dump Parade.  I so admired Peter who was so true to himself, the life he wanted and all he gave back to his forever home, Kennebunkport.”

Terri Bauld:

“When I first moved to Kennebunk in the 1980s, I didn’t know anyone. I wanted to do the trek across Maine, so I went to Cape Able Bike Shop. There I met Peter Sargent who helped me get what I needed. He was so helpful- he would talk me out of buying so many things ‘too much, or you don’t need it.’ What a salesman I thought, he cared more about me than making money. When he found out I was new to the area he told me about his wife Karen’s local bike group, The Zippy Bike Group. I ended up joining and met many very welcoming Kennebunk area folks. Peter helped us through the years with bike assistance, stories, and kindness. He was a great guy.”

Hugh Spiers:

“Peter was a great guy. Years ago, I was trying to quit smoking for the umpteenth time. I decided that if I took up cycling it would help -but I didn’t want a super expensive bike. He basically built a bike out of used parts for me. I wanted a touring bike, drop bars but I wanted them set high because of neck and back problems. I wanted a rack to carry stuff. I wanted a gel padded seat and I wanted it all under $200! He did it all! The one and only flaw was the aluminum rimmed rear wheel which I egged by popping spokes. He explained it was because I was a big guy and when I stepped on the pedal, I torqued the hub to the point that spikes pulled out of the rim and ‘tacoed’ the wheel. He found a steel rim and installed it for free. Before local artist Cookie Davis/Dominique London had driver’s license or a car, Peter set up a payment plan so Cookie could purchase a bike which he was VERY proud of! It was his only mode of transportation. When I was working at Sweetser I wanted some bikes for kids. He gave me at least a dozen bikes for free. Whenever those kids saved enough money to buy their own bike, I would take them to see Pete. He would talk to them for a bit, find out what their wants and needs were and would personally fit them to their dream bike. They loved it. He told me of the annual Cape-Able Century ride, a hundred-mile round trip to Winnipesaukee. He encouraged me to participate, I did, and I completed it! I miss our chats. I miss his shop. I miss his encouragement and kindness. With Pete’s passing our community lost something and someone that might never be replaced.”

Peter’s legacy lives on in his wife Karen MacGregor, son Mac and two grandchildren.

FMI on how you can honor Peter Sargent please contact Tom Bradbury at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust. tom@kctoffice.org or visit: https://www.kporttrust.org/