Peter Richard Stepanishen, 84, of Westerly, Rhode Island and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026, at Somerset House in Vero Beach after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was the beloved husband of Lenore (Lee) Thomas Stepanishen, his wife of more than 55 years.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1942, Peter was the son of Peter and Helen Rose (Furmenek) Stepanishen. He grew up in West Haven, CT, graduating from West Haven High School in 1959. A driven student, he earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University, his master’s from the University of Connecticut, and his doctorate in engineering acoustics from Pennsylvania State University, where he met Lee. They were married in 1970 and lived in Groton, CT for several years before moving to Westerly, where they built their home and life together.

Peter began his career at General Dynamics/Electric Boat in Groton, working on submarine control and noise reduction. In 1974, he transitioned to academia when he joined the University of Rhode Island’s Department of Ocean Engineering, where he spent nearly four decades teaching and mentoring students. He took particular pride in the graduate and doctoral students he advised, celebrating their contributions to academia, research and industry. Many of those mentorships became lasting friendships that continue to this day. He rose from assistant professor to full professor and was named Professor Emeritus upon his retirement in 2013.

In addition to teaching, Peter was a prolific researcher, authoring more than 130 scientific publications over a career spanning more than fifty years. His work advanced the understanding of underwater sound, transient wave propagation, structural acoustics, and acoustic imaging. His research was supported by the Office of Naval Research, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and in his earlier work on biomedical ultrasonics, the National Institutes of Health.

He was recognized with the A.B. Wood Medal and Prize from the Institute of Acoustics in London, election as a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, and in 2011, the Society’s Trent-Crede Medal. He was a visiting professor at Cambridge University, Stanford University, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and the University of Southampton, as well as lecturing on his research in England, France, and China. These visiting professorships gave his family incredible opportunities to join him and experience the culture and education of each destination. Despite his numerous and exceptional professional accomplishments, Peter was incredibly humble, letting his work speak for itself while giving his heart fully to his family.

In his spare time, Peter also found great joy in fishing- a hobby he picked up from his father as a child and enthusiastically passed on to Kent and Mark. Few things made Peter happier than an early morning or evening casting for trout and bass in the waters of Rhode Island, Florida, and Vermont. Like all great fishermen, the tales occasionally exceeded the day’s catch in productivity and impressiveness. He was a member of Dunn’s Corners Community Church and the Ocean Community YMCA, where he found deep satisfaction in his regular lap swimming. He also loved to travel and explore new places with family. He will be remembered as a caring and generous friend and for his sharp sense of humor and his loud, infectious laugh.

Above all else, Peter was an extraordinary husband and father. Along with his wife, Peter is survived by his sons, Kent and his wife Kristen of West Hartford, CT, and Mark and his wife Erica of Franklin, TN as well as his three grandchildren, Violet, Sylvie, and Lukas and his loving and devoted sister, Elaine Stepanishen of Hamden, CT. Peter and Lee built a beautiful life together, rooted in love, support, and family. He was endlessly proud of Kent and Mark, present for every milestone, and unwavering in his love and encouragement. The arrival of his grandchildren opened a whole new chapter and level of joy in his heart. He will be deeply missed.

A memorial service celebrating Peter’s life will be held in Westerly this summer. Full details to follow.

Those wishing to honor Peter’s memory may contribute to the Dr. Peter R. Stepanishen Scholarship in Ocean Engineering at the University of Rhode Island. Checks should be made payable to the URI Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 1700, Kingston, RI 02881, or to Dunn’s Corners Community Church Presbyterian, 221 Post Rd, Westerly, RI 02891.