Obituary of Peter S. Sedlack

Pete Sedlack, 62, passed away unexpectedly at home on December 9, 2023 in Smallwood, NY.

He was born May 26, 1961 in Swan Lake, NY. Shortly thereafter, his lifelong passion for motorsports began.  If it had an engine and moved, he was on it! He started on dirt bikes and snowmobiles at an early age, and built his first hot rods attending Sullivan County BOCES. After his Army service, he started a classic car sales and restoration shop in Killeen, Texas. In 1988, he returned to Sullivan County with his wife Gretchen and then 2-year-old son. As Rex grew, Pete passed down the need for speed. They rode the dirt and snow together, raced karts, then moved up to street and track bikes. Oakland Valley, Old Forge, Pocono Raceway, Monticello Motor Club, in the backyard...they were racing.

Pete spent 20 years operating Pete's Appliance Repair, and his dedication to 2 wheels never stopped. In 2001, he established Flykitty Motorsports in Monticello, NY. He took extraordinary pride in the quality of his bikes, and it was his true pleasure to offer advice and welcome new riders to the sport. Until the pandemic hit in 2020, he spent many seasons at New York Safety Track. He ran Bad Kitty Trackday Rentals, where he rented bikes and taught street riders how to ride the track. Coach Kitty and his wife enjoyed many fantastic summer weekends with their extended track family.

He loved helping people any way he could, passing along as much knowledge as he could, throttle therapy, and feeding the pet deer outside his house. His greatest love of all was his grandchildren.

Pete is survived by: His wife of 43 years, Gretchen, and her parents; his son Rex and partner Vicki Vargas along with their three children Troy, Brianna, and Antonio; father William Sedlack Sr; mother Ann Davran of Queensbury, NY; brothers Bill, Richard, Frank [wife Dawn], and Mark [wife Saraid] of the Virgin Islands; sister Paula Balluff of Orlando, FL [husband Paul]; and his nieces and nephews.    

An open-house farewell celebration will be held Saturday, December 16th from 3-5 pm at VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home; 401 Broadway; Monticello, NY 12701.  All who knew him are invited to stop by.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to the White Lake, NY Fire Department to honor their lightning-quick response and efforts. Thanks also to the Hatzalah EMS, the State Troopers and Bethel Police, and to Alan Kesten.  They each showed well-appreciated care and compassion in a difficult situation.