Peter Carlton McKinney

Peter Carlton McKinney, 84, of North Greenbush, NY, was born on August 7, 1941, in Newark, NJ, to Patricia Murphy McKinney and Julian Douglas McKinney. A 1959 graduate of Clifford J. Scott High School in East Orange, NJ, Peter graduated from Franklin College in Franklin, IN, in 1964. He was a member of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity. While there, he met the love of his life, Ann Lynn Runyan, and they were married two months after graduation.

Peter enrolled in Colgate Rochester Divinity School, and claimed the honor of becoming a seminary dropout within months of enrollment. He was subsequently “drafted” into President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” serving his “basic training” in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Counselor Advisor University Summer Education (CAUSE) program at the University of Bridgeport. This preparation led to his accepting a position as an Employment Counselor with Rochester‘s newly created Youth Opportunity Center. In this capacity, he also supplemented the efforts of the counseling staff in numerous high schools in and around Rochester.

His counseling experience, combined with additional postgraduate coursework, led to a rewarding 39-year career with the New York State Department of Labor. He may be best remembered as Rochester‘s Coordinator of the Manpower Development and Training Act (MDTA) program and then in Albany as the statewide Trade Act Coordinator.

With Ann, Peter spent his life as an active volunteer at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Greece, NY, and Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church in Guilderland, NY. He also volunteered as a coach and then a judge for the youth program Olympics/Odyssey of the Mind. Peter and Ann were privileged to serve together as church youth group leaders. They also volunteered for decades as ushers at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, NY, where they were designated “Ushers of the Year” in 2018. Peter loved to travel with Ann. They were fortunate to be able to visit 40 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, five Canadian provinces, and 13 European countries together. Peter enjoyed nature and wildlife photography. National, state and provincial parks were among their favorite destinations. Some of the parks included interpretive centers that helped to increase Peter’s understanding and appreciation of indigenous cultures.

Peter celebrated nearly 62 wonderful years of connubial bliss with Ann, whom he described as the most generous, giving, understanding, loving human being since Mother Teresa. Peter was the proud father of Cara (Jeff) Victor and Erin (Luis) Estevez. He reveled in the exploits, talents, and accomplishments of his only granddaughter, Kathryn Victor.

Ann and Peter have been longtime residents of Eastwyck Village (Summit at Eastwyck) where they were fortunate to add numerous good friends to those from Rochester and Guilderland.

Peter was predeceased by both of his parents and his only (younger) brother Lieutenant Patrick Douglas McKinney, U.S. Navy (EOD), Retired, and Patrick’s wife, Yoshiko.

Peter wrote this obituary in advance, in order to relieve his family of that task. He shuffled off this mortal coil on July 1, 2026.

A celebration of Peter’s life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 4, 2026 at Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church in Guilderland, NY. Donations in Peter’s memory may be made to your local food bank or a house of worship that is meaningful to you.