Peter Orloff, a beloved family man with a wicked sense of humor who doted on his wife, children and grandchildren, died peacefully in his sleep on September 27 at his home in Orangeburg, NY. He was 85.

The retired stock trader, and US Navy sailor, who once held a seat on the American Stock exchange, was known for his hard-charging attitude and reserving his softer side for those he loved and admired. His occasional rough edges were exceptionally rounded and balanced by his wife, Helga of 54 years, whom he married just four months after they met on a blind date in 1968. Their whirlwind romance would last a lifetime.

The couple's long and devoted relationship was a reflection of his sweet and fiery personality. During a decades-long career on the trading floor where he began as a clerk, friends and rivals nicknamed him "Grandpa Executioner" for his powerful ability to forcefully execute trades and deals, while at home he was simply Dad to his three children, Max, Alex and Jessy, and later lovingly known to his grandchildren as Opa.

Peter, the son of Maxwell and Sylvia, grew up on the hardscrabble streets of Midwood, Brooklyn, graduating PS 99 in 1951 and Midwood High School in 1955. He liked to tell of how as a teen, he and friends would carouse and play cards in the smoky backroom of a store owned by the family of a pal, former "Sopranos" star Tony Sirico, who played a version of himself on the show, Paulie Walnuts.

Peter joined the US Navy shortly after graduating high school, and sailed the world on the USS Lexington. His tales from his time at sea were thrilling, including one in which he rode atop the battleship's highest tower while on watch as rolling, 50-foot waves from a hurricane crashed over the deck. After completing his service, he moved back to New York and began a long career in finance. He retired only after surviving the 9/11 attacks at Ground Zero. Covered head-to-toe in dust from the wreckage of the Twin Towers, he hitched a ride across the Hudson River on a ferry boat, flagged down a bus and made his way home.

In his personal life, Peter was an avid skier, renting a second home in Vermont and spending winters gliding down the slopes. At other times, he displayed his love for the sun, taking his wife on lavish trips to the Caribbean. Other passions included horses of all kinds, including a pair of race horses he owned, and convertible cars. Few sunny summer days went by where he was not behind the wheel, wind in his hair, and thrilled as he flew down a sun-drenched highway.

Peter also picked up golf after retirement, a sport he had resisted his whole life, but wound up loving. Another post retirement hobby became something of a second career, when he surprised his family by getting a bus driver's license and happily drove children to and from school for about five years. But most of all, he loved watching, and was deeply proud of, his grandchildren as they displayed their talents for sports and acting.

While the last few years were difficult, he never gave up. Peter loved and lived hard. He savored each moment and frequently liked to joke that he couldn't believe he had lasted as long as he had. He will be deeply missed by everyone he touched across his long life.

Peter is survived by his wife Helga, sister Catherine Morrison, children Alexandra Orloff Kaplan and Jessyca Orloff Mogg, their spouses, Don Kaplan and Bruce Mogg and his four grandchildren, Ryan and Brendan Mogg, Lily and Zoey Kaplan, along with nieces and nephews and other family members across the globe.

A visitation will be held September 29, 4 - 8 p.m. at Moritz Funeral Home, 98 Route 303 South, Tappan, NY 10983. A funeral service will be graveside Friday, September 30, 12:30 p.m. at Brick Church Cemetery, 221 Brick Church Road, Spring Valley, NY  10977.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Peter's memory may be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation , 8 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036.