Remembering Peter Yarrow: A Folk Legend’s Legacy in Ridgefield
The world lost a musical icon with the passing of Peter Yarrow, best known as a member of the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow, who was 86, succumbed to a four-year battle with bladder cancer in January 2025. His music, activism, and unwavering belief in the power of song to inspire change will forever be remembered.
In tribute to Yarrow, we look back on an interview conducted in 2017 by Jackie Logsted, then a rising senior at Wooster School in Danbury and an intern with HamletHub. At the time, Yarrow and his longtime bandmate Noel Paul Stookey were preparing to take the stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse, continuing the duo’s tradition of carrying forward the music and message of Peter, Paul and Mary.
A Night to Remember in Ridgefield [photo displayed was taken during Ridgefield Playhouse concert is hanging in the Playhouse lobby)
Having recently celebrated their 50th anniversary as a musical duo, Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey performed at The Ridgefield Playhouse on July 16, 2017. Although Mary Travers—who lived in Ridgefield—had passed away in 2009, Yarrow and Stookey kept her spirit alive on stage. Their setlist featured folk classics such as “If I Had a Hammer,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Puff (The Magic Dragon),” “I Dig Rock & Roll Music,” and “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” The audience often joined in, singing Mary’s parts, their voices echoing a shared love for the music that defined a generation.
Peter, Paul and Mary were more than just musicians—they were storytellers, activists, and the voice of a movement. The trio won five Grammy Awards, produced 13 Top 40 hits (six of which ascended into the Top 10), and earned eight gold and five platinum albums. Their music, often intertwined with the social issues of the 1960s, continues to resonate with audiences today.
Ridgefield held special significance for Yarrow. Following the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, he was invited to create a “concert of feeling” at The Ridgefield Playhouse. It was there that he sang with Francine Wheeler, who had lost her son in the tragedy. Yarrow later reflected on the experience, calling it “extraordinary, very painful but very important.” His commitment to anti-gun violence and advocacy for peace was deeply personal, stemming from the loss of a close friend decades earlier.
Farewell to a Legend
With Peter Yarrow’s passing, Noel Paul Stookey remains the last surviving member of Peter, Paul and Mary. Yet, their legacy endures in the timeless lyrics and melodies that have inspired generations. As we bid farewell to Yarrow, we remember him not only as a musician but as a man who used his voice to champion peace, justice, and kindness.
In the words of their 1967 recording of “Leaving on a Jet Plane” (written by John Denver for Peter, Paul and Mary, which became a No. 1 hit in 1969):
“Kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go”
May Peter Yarrow rest in peace, knowing that his music and message will never fade.
You can read Jackie's interview with Yarrow and Snookey here.