Marvin “Peter” McMahon

November 6, 1946 – October 9, 2026

Wake and service will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:00am - 12:30pm
F. G. Guido Funeral Home
440 Clinton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Family and friends are invited to come together, share stories, and honor the indelible mark she left on all of us.

Cremation and Chapel service to follow Green-Wood Cemetery

Repass at 111 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11238

Marvin “Peter” McMahon was born on November 6, 1946, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to the late Claude and Rebecca McMahon.  His family later settled in Roxboro, North Carolina, where he grew up as one of seven children.  His father, with the help of some of his sons, built the family home where they would grow up together.  Although life in the Jim Crow South presented its share of hardships, Peter often recalled that he and his siblings didn’t realize just how poor they were until they got older. Their childhood was also filled with the simple joys of family, community, and growing up together.

As a young man, Peter worked in the tobacco fields and came of age during a pivotal period in American history.  Like many African Americans of his generation, he eventually made his way north to New York City, where he would build a life, establish his career, and raise his family.  On July 30, 1977, he married his beloved wife Patricia McMahon, with whom he shared a life and raised their two daughters, Stephanie and Erica.  Peter was the father of five children.

Peter spent many years at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he earned the respect of colleagues throughout his career.  He was actively involved in efforts to unionize hospital workers and was never one to shy away from standing up for what he believed was right.  He often spoke about his battles with management, making it all the more fitting, and perhaps a little ironic, that he eventually became a manager himself.  As a food service manager, he continued to build a reputation for his dedication, strong work ethic, and the relationships he cultivated over the years.

Outside of work, Peter was a man of many interests and talents.  An exceptional cook, he enjoyed preparing meals and bringing people together through food. He was an avid bowler, a lover of music, particularly the soulful sounds of James Brown and his contemporaries, and an active member of the Masonic lodge during much of his adult life.  Raised in the Southern Baptist tradition, his Southern roots remained an important part of who he was.

Family was an important part of Peter’s life.  He shared a particularly close bond with his mother, Rebecca, whom he faithfully called twice every day.  In his own later years, he found joy in spending time with his grandchildren and sharing in the everyday moments of family life.

From his childhood in the segregated South to the life he built in Brooklyn, Peter’s journey reflected the experiences of a generation that witnessed extraordinary change.  He was a hardworking man who valued dignity, respect, and the opportunity to make a life for himself and his family.  His accomplishments were not measured in wealth or titles alone, but in the people he touched, the respect he earned, and the memories he leaves behind.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Rebecca McMahon; his brothers, James McMahon, Herbert McMahon, and Howard McMahon; his sister, Thelma McMahon Norwood; his son, Mark McMahon; and his beloved wife, Patricia McMahon.

He leaves to cherish his memory his four daughters, Adana Byrd, Melinda Byrd Thompson, Stephanie Pamela McMahon, and Erica McMahon Mason; his sons-in-law, Kenyan Thompson and Benjamin John Mason; his brother, Claude McMahon Jr.; and his sister, Sylvia Beatty.

His legacy continues through his grandchildren, Cristine Danielle Byrd, Joseph Byrd, Shawn Daniel Byrd, Deanna Melinda Terry Solcombe, Nyshe’ Alana Walker, Benjamin Peter Mason, and Eva Tristine Mason; and his great-grandchildren, Madisyn Elizabeth Byrd, A’Darius Justice Byrd, Amyrah Infinity Byrd, Alana Heaven Byrd, and Alonnie Kaycee Rose Byrd.

He is lovingly remembered by his niece, Syrvella Hall; grandniece, Quiera Monique Hall; nephew, Terrence Beatty; and a host of extended family members, friends, and loved ones.

Peter lived through times of great change and built a life that was uniquely his own. He will be remembered for his strength, his determination, his love of good food and music, and the many ways he left his mark on those around him.  His story lives on through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

May he rest in eternal peace.