Malachi M. “Max” Peters of Branford died suddenly in New Haven on Dec. 16. Max was born May 16, 1997, in New Haven, the son of Theodore G. “Ted” Peters, III and Leslie Hopkins Peters of Branford. He was a 2016 graduate of Branford High School where he performed in the choir and theater productions. He was a 2020 graduate of Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, where he continued in his love of theater and the performing arts.

Max experienced great growth academically, theatrically, and personally at Dean College. He loved his friends (students and professors) that he made at Dean, and continued to enjoy the friendships in the years after graduating from the college. For almost two years, Max had been working as a teacher and counselor at The Grove School in Madison, where he was much admired and respected by his students and faculty. He loved his job at the Grove School and cared very much for the faculty and the students for whom he served. Max was a beacon of light and he lit up any room he walked into with his charisma and charm. He kept a host of friends from Branford High School, Dean College, and The Owl Shop in New Haven. Words cannot do justice to explain how much he will be missed by all.

Besides Ted and Leslie, Max is survived by his brother Theodore G. Peters, IV of Austin, Texas; his maternal grandmother Mary E. Peters of East Haven; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Theodore G. Peters, Jr., and Ann and Max Hopkins.

Relatives and friends were invited to visiting hours on Dec. 20, at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, as well as a funeral service on Dec. 21, in Trinity Episcopal Church on-the-green, 1109 Main Street, Branford. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:

For directions and online memorial see www.wsclancy.com.