A former detective with the NYPD, who bravely served during the 9/11 tragedy and later became a cherished hockey coach for players with disabilities, tragically took his own life last week, leaving a profound sense of loss among his players and family.
Peter Gianatiempo, affectionately known as “Coach Pete,” dedicated 26 years to the police force, including a substantial 19 years in the Organized Crime Control Bureau. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home, mere days before he was slated to return to coaching an adaptive hockey team in Connecticut. He was 61 years old.
Dawn Gianatiempo shared that her husband was passionate about his job as a police officer, but the psychological burden of the work stayed with him long after his retirement in 2014.
“Pete experienced things that would be difficult for anyone to understand unless they were in law enforcement themselves,” she recalled in an interview with the New York Post. “Even though he retired, he missed the job and often reflected on his experiences.”
On September 11, 2001, Dawn vividly remembers her husband rushing towards danger while grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for years following those events.
“I thought the world was coming to an end, and he said, ‘I have to go to work,’ then I didn’t see him for days,” Gianatiempo recounted. “He was driven by duty, and every action was taken with pure intention.”
Peter Gianatiempo was raised in Woodside, Queens, and graduated from Monsignor McClancy High School in 1982, where he was an avid soccer player. He met his wife Dawn in 1984, married her in 1992, and they had two children: their daughter Nicole, now 30, and their son Peter, 26.
Residing in Cortlandt Manor, Westchester, Gianatiempo spent his retirement engaged in various jobs and coaching for the New York Junior Rangers programs in New York and Connecticut.
His passion for coaching ignited when his children began playing sports, and his son’s engagement in therapeutic recreation motivated Gianatiempo to ardently support adaptive hockey.
“Once I entered the special needs realm, my dad was eager to learn about it,” Peter Gianatiempo remarked. “It inspired him to get involved with coaching adaptive hockey.”
In September 2021, the New York Rangers featured a video showcasing Gianatiempo’s impactful work with a young girl dealing with anger issues and personal challenges.
“I discovered after a couple of weeks that Daniella had some special needs, yet I didn’t let that hinder my efforts to teach her the sport of hockey,” Gianatiempo said.
In late 2024, Gianatiempo took on coaching responsibilities for the Danbury Hat Tricks youth teams and the Northern Bravehearts, an adaptive hockey program in Danbury, Connecticut. Parents expressed that his involvement was nothing short of miraculous.
“Pete always emphasized that hockey is meant for everyone, and he was determined to make that a reality,” said Dominick Alessandro, whose son Luke, 17, plays adaptive hockey.
Alessandro noted that he had been collaborating with Gianatiempo over the summer to revamp the Bravehearts’ logo and strategize about expanding the program.
“With special hockey tournaments happening nationally, Pete envisioned building our program to the point where we could represent Danbury,” Alessandro said, visibly shaken by their shared plans. “My mind has yet to comprehend this loss.”
The news of Gianatiempo’s passing sent shockwaves through the hockey community.
“Heartbroken to hear about the loss of a great man last night,” expressed former NHL goaltender Stephen Valiquette on social media.
“Pete Gianatiempo was much more than a fan of the [Rangers]; he was family. A retired NYPD detective and 9/11 hero, he selflessly contributed to hockey and his community. Rest peacefully, Pete. Your spirit will always be part of us.”
Ron Rogell, a member of New York Rangers Sled Hockey Team and referred to as the “Mayor of Danbury Arena,” fondly remembered Gianatiempo’s humor, kindness, and notable cologne.
“If he wasn’t playfully teasing you, that meant he didn’t care much for you,” Rogell shared. “I knew right away that we would become good friends – and we did.”
“He was impeccably groomed and had a generous amount of cologne; it became a running joke that you’d catch a whiff of him before you even laid eyes on him.”
Plans for memorials and charity hockey games are being established in his honor.
The Danbury Hat Tricks, a minor professional team, announced that they would host the NYPD Hockey Club on November 12 for the “Blueline Classic,” a tribute to Gianatiempo.
On Saturday night at Danbury Arena, The Ultimate Goalie Showdown, a hockey exhibition featuring viral sensations, took a moment to honor Gianatiempo with a tribute.
Gianatiempo’s funeral is set for Tuesday in Westchester.
Former NHL tough guy Colton Orr, who collaborated with Gianatiempo on the Junior Rangers program and with the Bravehearts at Danbury Arena, shared, “He possessed an enormous heart and devoted everything to the players and those around him.”
“I’ll deeply miss his enthusiasm, his friendship, and even the unmistakable scent of his cologne filling the rink.”
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Before his untimely death, Gianatiempo was eagerly anticipating his daughter’s wedding in October. In June, he took on a security role at a warehouse in Nyack, a position his wife reported he was thriving in.
“He was back to being himself – monitoring cameras and asking questions,” she remarked. “It was as close to police work as he got after leaving the force.”
Meanwhile, Alessandro is struggling to convey Pete’s absence to his son, who has Down syndrome.
“I’m literally going to have to say he moved away,” Alessandro revealed. “There’s no way I can explain to him that Pete is gone.”
