Dr. F. Peter Rentz

Dr. F. Peter Rentz of Pittsfield passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 17th, 2025, just two months after losing his beloved wife, Mary Leath Rentz. Born in Lima, Ohio, on August 22, 1942, the eldest son of the late Frederick W. Rentz and G. Pauline Schlegel Rentz, he graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1960 and from Miami University in 1964. He met Mary at Pilgrim Hills UCC Camp, where he was a lifeguard and she was a counselor. They married on August 20th, 1966 and moved to Evanston, IL where Pete graduated from Northwestern University Medical School. Pete began work as physician, serving as an officer in the US Navy as part of the UDT-SEALs on a nuclear submarine, and later specializing in Radiology as a civilian in Cleveland and Boston before settling his family in Pittsfield in 1976. Pete’s keen intellect, curiosity and community-oriented spirit led him to join many activities in Berkshire County, especially focusing on faith, the outdoors, trains and supporting youth and families. He served on numerous committees at South Congregational Church (now UCC, Pittsfield), participating in the Men’s Forum, leading the high school youth group, occasionally lending his bass voice to the choir and cooking meals at St. Joe’s Kitchen. Pete was stalwart member of the Pittsfield YMCA and served on its board of directors. An avid hiker and cyclist, Pete enjoyed competing in the Josh Billings Run-Aground triathlon for many years with his colleagues from Berkshire Radiological Associates and served happily on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as a volunteer trail maintainer and caretaker at Upper Goose Pond Cabin (AMC). A train buff since his youth in Lima, Pete was thrilled to work on the Berkshire Scenic Railway in his early retirement. Throughout his 27-year medical career he mentored other physicians as Attending Radiologist at BMC of University of Massachusetts Medical School. In the late 1970’s he embraced emergent imaging technologies, and was instrumental in bringing the first CT scanner to Berkshire County. He also developed angioplasty and created the first mechanical angiographic stepping table at BMC. Pete’s family and friends enjoyed his subversively jovial sense of humor, whether he was hiking with the Monday Mountain Boys or regaling the cousins with stories at frequent family reunions. Pete was a study in delightfully enigmatic contrasts: a serious intellectual who loved absurdist humor, a dedicated scientist who also had deep faith and artistic talent, an outdoorsman who knew how to do or make practically anything and a mentor who wanted to teach others everything he knew. His generous, indomitable spirit and endless personal grit made him a unique, irreplaceable human who will be truly missed by the many who knew and loved him. Peter was predeceased by his dear parents and his wonderful wife of 58 years, Mary. He is survived by his beloved siblings, Susan Rentz Flickinger and Dr. David J. Rentz, his two loving daughters, Deborah Rentz-Moore (married to John Moore) of Durham, NH and Sarah Rentz (partnered with Robert Vinas, Jr.) of Wesley Hills, NY, as well as three cherished grandsons: Gibson and Garrett Moore and Avery Vinas. A musical service giving thanks for Peter and Mary Rentz’s lives will take place on August 16th, 1 PM at UCC, Pittsfield, 110 South St, Pittsfield MA 01201

Dr. F. Peter Rentz

August 22, 1942 - July 17, 2025