Peter Issel Sr., businessman, community volunteer

Peter Issel Sr., 84, of Lewes, died suddenly of a heart attack at his home Tuesday, May 19, 2025. Peter and his wife of 60 years, Diane, moved to Lewes in 2009 from Columbia, Md.  

Peter was born in 1941, son of Margaret and Ernest Issel, COO of McCormick Spices in Baltimore, Md. He graduated from the Gilman School in 1961 and later earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Lehigh University in 1965. Peter and the former Diane Nazaro of Glen Rock, N.J., married soon thereafter in Baltimore, where she began a 30+ year career in elementary education as a teacher and administrator.

After many years as a bank executive, Peter entered the commercial development field with Jaycin Corporation. He and Diane later moved to Columbia, Md., where he owned and managed the Issel Corp., and was an ardent fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens.  

The Issels had two sons, Peter Jr., who passed away in 2019, and Timothy Issel, now a resident of Lewes. The couple were world travelers and filled their years in Lewes with volunteer work, where Peter served six years on the board of the Greater Lewes Foundation and a decade as chair of the Friends of the Lewes Canalfront Park board, to which Mrs. Issel also belonged.

A private interment and service for Peter is being planned for July. 

Gifts in Mr. Issel’s memory may be made to the Lewes Canalfront Park, P.O. Box 110, Lewes, DE 19958.