petervay

Peter Vay was the retired vice president and manager of the Lincoln Office of the Lincoln-Alliance Bank & Trust Company. He had been in the banking business for 50 years. According to the article in the Democrat and Chronicle, Peter was one of the most active and best known of Rochester bankers. He retired in April 1929 and spent his time in an advisory capacity with an office in the banking house. Peter was president of the State Bank Section of the New York State Bankers' Association. The article also states that his affiliation with Rochester banking goes back to August 1879 when he became associated with the former Flour City National Bank located in the Powers Building as the messenger. From that point Peter was promoted from one position to another, each with increasing responsibility and on January 2, 1894 he was made assistant cashier and in November 1898 he became cashier. In January 1906 the Flour City National Bank merged with the German-American Bank to form the National Bank of Rochester. This bank also absorbed the Commercial Bank and became the Lincoln National Bank. Peter was made a director in January 1909 and on January 26, 1910 (20 days after his father's passing) he was elected vice president. This bank merged nine years later with the Alliance Bank. Peter was elected president of the State Bank section of the New York State Bankers convention in 1924. He was a member of the Rochester Elks and of the Knights of Columbus and was on the board of directors for several organizations.

He married Martha Kirsch in June 1884. She was the daughter of Arius and Gertrude Kirsch, a prominent family in Rochester. Upon his passing he was survived by this wife, four daughters, Mrs. James Griffin, Mrs. Charles H. Hebing, Mrs. Harold E. Stonebraker and Mrs. Edward Krieg as well as his son, Arthur L. Vay. He was also survived by three sisters and one brother: Mrs. Theresa Schreiner, Mrs. Margaret Steimes, Mrs. Margaret Krieg and Fred Vay of Chicago in addition to 13 grandchildren. He was buried in his family plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.