Died February 1, 2005
College: Davenport
Widow: Mrs. Shelby Griswold Schavoir
2 Marsh Bridge Lane
Savannah, GA 31411-2946
912-598-7674
912-598-9390 (Fax)
Children: Suki, 1962; Frederick, 1966
Peter L. Schavoir attended Phillips Academy, Andover, MA, and then spent a year and a half at Yale before leaving for 21 months in the US Army. After the Army he returned to Yale. While there he met his future wife, Shelby Griswold, and joined IBM, first as a summer intern and then as his full time career.
Peter and Shelby have two children, Suki and Frederick. Suki has a graphics business in Ridgefield, CT, and Fred, a boat repairer in Essex, CT, has three children, Ana, Peter, and Sam.
Peter had a great career with IBM, beginning in sales in New Haven, moving on to a marketing job in New York, and then to IBM’s headquarters in Westchester County, NY, in planning. In 1972 he joined the Corporate Business Plans staff in management and later executive jobs. Peter traveled worldwide talking to customers and other IBMers. In 1987, he was asked to take a position as VP of IBM’s Asia Pacific Group based in Tokyo, and he and Shelby moved to Tokyo for three years. In late 1989, Peter was recalled to IBM’s headquarters to lead the Corporate Strategy staff. A new CEO embraced and executed a strategic redirection of the entire company, and after a year with him Peter decided to retire. Post retirement, he was frequently called upon by IBM and other companies for strategy work in the Far East and domestically.
In the early 1990’s Shelby and Peter built a home overlooking the Intra-Coastal Waterway at The Landings on Skidaway Island in the warmer climate of Savannah, GA. They spent winters in Savannah and summered in Old Lyme, CT. Peter died February 1, 2005, and is missed by all; Shelby continues to divide her time between Savannah and Old Lyme.
—by Shelby Schavoir