Peter “Pop” Henderson of Rumson and Palm Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully Nov. 24, 2024, at the age of 90, following a severe stroke. He was a beloved father of six children, 18 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and husband to Maureen Kennedy Henderson to whom he was married for 62 years.
Pop lived a full life. Born and raised in South Orange, New Jersey, he was the youngest of seven children. He attended Seton Hall University, where he liked to tell his kids he was the last one cut from the National Championship basketball team.
Pop was a captain in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Monmouth and started his career at Henderson Brothers Incorporated, the family-owned specialist firm on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), where his great-grandfather John C. Henderson first purchased a seat in 1862. Pop worked his way up to become president of Henderson Brothers, overseeing all trading in a multitude of stocks, including Ford Motor Company, American Express and Berkshire Hathaway. Henderson Brothers was the oldest – and eventually became the second-largest – specialist firm on the NYSE until it was bought by Labranche & Co. in March 2000.
Pop served on the boards of Monmouth Beach Club, where he was the men’s tennis doubles champion, The Sea Bright Tennis Club, and The Rumson Country Club, where he was club champion in paddle tennis. He also served as vice chairman of Riverview Hospital. Later in life, Pop loved spending time at The Seabright Beach Club and The Bath & Tennis Club in Palm Beach where he entertained so many lifelong friends during long lunches.
Pop was predeceased by his wife Maureen and his four brothers, Charles, Robert, Joseph and John. He is survived by his sisters, Mary Seaman-Meyer and M. Anita Gassert. He is also survived by his loving children, Peter (Gracie), Goose (Kristina), Ted (Wendy), Jim (Carol), Doug, and Margot (Aaron); his grandchildren, Peter, Alex, Shamus, Ryan, Trevor, Liza, Charlotte, Paige, Teddy, Connor, Emily, Madeline, Graham, Pierce, Hadley, Campbell, Piper and Victoria; and his great-grandchildren, Michael, Kennedy, Harper, Kiera, Lilly, Madeline, Elise and Ryan.
Funeral services were held at Nov. 29 at Holy Cross Church in Rumson.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Parker Family Health Center in Red Bank in Peter’s memory.
Memories and condolences may be shared at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
The article originally appeared in the December 5 – 11, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
