Beloved local master gardener Frank Asher dies at 69

(The following statement was made by a friend of the Rev. Peter Leland DeGroot.)

Peter Leland DeGroote, a pioneering gay United Methodist minister, was born on January 19, 1940 in Rochester, New York, to Leland Peter and Lee (Sitnik) DeGroote. The family moved to Syracuse when Peter was young. Peter had a brother-in-law, Robert, and a younger brother, Joseph, and was followed by three sisters, Mary, Martha, and Margaret. His mother, Leah, was a Roman Catholic, but was expelled from her parish after marrying a Protestant. There, she took her children to Lafayette Street Methodist Church every Sunday for worship and Christian education.

Peter attended West Virginia Wesleyan University, graduating in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Peter had considered a career as a minister (his younger brother Joseph had been a minister in the United Methodist Church for many years), but believed his homosexual orientation would hinder his career in the church. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1961 and served a three-year term, spending one year in Heidelberg, Germany. This was an opportunity to explore Europe. In August 1964, he was granted early release and an honorable discharge to attend school.

He began graduate studies in public administration at American University in Washington, DC. Peter met Tom McCain in January 1967, beginning a five-year relationship and remaining close friends. One of Peter’s professors was an executive at the International Urban Management Association (ICMA), who recognized Peter’s talent and arranged for him to help with several projects there. During the summer, Peter directed the camp program at the YMCA’s Camp Letts in Edgewater, Maryland. Although he taught at American University, he received his master’s degree in 1971 because he was unable to complete his dissertation.

In 1972, Peter was hired to form ICMA Retirement Corporation (now MissionSquare Retirement) to develop portable retirement plans for municipal managers. In the 16 years he led ICMA-RC, the program grew to more than $1 billion in assets and more than 100,000 participants. At the time of his retirement in 1988, Peter was noted as having “helped create one of the most prominent retirement companies in the country and perhaps the most knowledgeable person in the field.”

In the 1970s, Peter volunteered to produce gay newspapers in Washington, D.C., and served as news editor of the Washington Blade for three months in 1975. Peter met Leslie Lugo in Fort Lauderdale in 1977. Leslie moved to Washington DC the following year and they continued a seven-year relationship and remained good friends for several years.

In 1984, Peter joined Foundry UM Church, where his college friend, Pastor Don Stewart, was on staff. Stewart told Peter about a local LGBT United Methodist group. Peter began attending Mid-Atlantic Affirmation’s weekly worship and social meetings and became deeply involved in providing leadership and hospitality to the group.

Peter suggested that the Foundry sponsor an Affirmation Bible Study Group as part of a neighborhood Bible study program. He asked Ralph Williams to moderate the group, and Peter led the group from the beginning. The Bible study group met for several years and played a key role in the process of The Foundry becoming a Reconciling Congregation in 1995, publicly affirming LGBTQ people as full participants in church life.

In November 1988, Peter retired from ICMA-RC and began an international romantic adventure, moving to Caracas, Venezuela, and making a major change in his life. However, a tragic event occurs and Peter is kidnapped and later found seriously injured and left in the countryside. Peter said that as he lay in agony waiting for rescue, he prayed that if he recovered, he would commit to participating in the missionary work. After returning to Washington, D.C. and spending time healing and recovering, Peter enrolled at Wesley Theological Seminary, graduating magna cum laude and earning his M.D. degree. degree in 1994.

Peter was determined to challenge the United Methodist Church’s ban on ordaining LGBTQ ministers. He began the process of candidacy for ordination at the Foundry and publicly stated that he was gay and intended to be celibate. He worked his way through the process and was ultimately approved by the Baltimore-Washington Conference by a narrow margin. He was ordained a deacon on June 13, 1993 and an elder on June 16, 1996.

Peter served actively in service to these congregations for 16 years. Baltimore Centennial (1996-1998). Back River Essex (1998-2003); College Park (2003-2004); Foundry Associate (2004-2006) and United Church (2006-2009). Peter retired from the ministry in 2009. One of Peter’s notable accomplishments during these years was the formation of BWARM (Baltimore-Washington Area Reconciliation United Methodists). When Bishop John Scholl arrived in Baltimore, Washington in 2004, he announced his intention to meet with various ethnic and gender groups at a conference. Peter also asked the bishops to meet with LGBTQ members. The bishop asked Peter to arrange such a meeting. Peter invited a variety of LGBTQ people and their allies who gathered at the conference to speak with Bishop. As a result of that meeting, this network of people began to organize the powerful and influential BWARM group.

After retirement, Peter continued to take annual summer trips to Rehoboth Beach with friends, attended Foundry UM Church, and enjoyed reading and writing. On May 13, 2025, the Baltimore-Washington Chapter of the Methodist Social Action Federation presented Peter with the Fool of God Award. After a period of declining health, he passed away on May 9, 2026.

He is survived by his sister, Marta Straub; her son, James Oliver and her husband; Longtime partner Luis Herrera. caregivers Michael Thompson and Ralph Williams and many dear friends. A memorial service and luncheon will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Foundry UM Church, 1500 16th St., NW, Washington, DC.