October 23, 2026
Well, the Peter/Pierre/Rock/Stone Theme continues to grow!!
In my previous post, Shut the Door, the Bird's Out! Peter, Rock, Stone and a Trail of Coincidences, I followed a series of recent notable deaths that brought together PETER, BIRD, WING, BEAK, ROCK and eventually STONE.
BUTT, there was something particularly TIMELY about the name PETER cropping upp repeatedly during October that I hadn't mentioned.
Remember the famous nursery rhyme:
“Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater…”
AND what are pumpkins associated with at this time of year?!
HALLOWEEN!!
The famous jack-o'-lantern, made by hollowing out a pumpkin and carving a face into it, is one of Halloween's most recognizable symbols.
AND Halloween is October 31… just around the corner!!
So the name PETER cropping upp repeatedly as I follow the leads from Wikipedia's recent notable deaths adds another dimension to my “Timely” pattern cluster.
Another twin heads upp?!
From Rock to STONE… AGAIN!!
Recall that the name PETER comes from the Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone. In my previous post, STONE was added to the growing cluster through Sam Noto's association with bandleader STAN Kenton, the Old English stānmeaning stone, and the biblical story of David and Goliath.
I had initially discounted the David and Goliath connection because David used five smooth STONES, rather than rocks.
BUTT, then STONE cropped upp, and the possibility was back on the table.
Now note this recent addition to Wikipedia's notable deaths:
Russell Cyril James STONE (April 7, 1923 – October 20, 2026), 103, New Zealand historian, author and Professor Emeritus at the University of Auckland. His death was announced October 22.
STONE!!
Another addition to the Peter/Rock/Stone Theme, and so soon after STONE had entered the research trail!
AND, that's not all.
In the same section of Wikipedia's notable deaths that I was examining, another name stood out:
Petr Slaný, 74, Czech footballer who played for Baník Ostrava and Sparta Prague.
PETR?!
PETR is the Czech form of PETER!!
So now, following these latest death notices, we have STONE and PETR cropping upp together.
Hmmm.
Naturally, I decided to investigate further.
You Won't Believe Who Appeared in Russell Stone's Obituary!!
I ventured to the University of Auckland's obituary for Russell Stone, published October 22.
The obituary describes Russell Stone's remarkable career as a historian and his contribution to researching Auckland's past.
BUTT, what really caught my eye was a photograph showing Russell Stone standing with four other academics.
One was identified as:
EMERITUS PROFESSOR PETER STONE!!
PETER STONE?!
Remember that PETER means ROCK/STONE?!
And now the actual name PETER STONE appears in the obituary of another STONE, whose death had only just been added to Wikipedia's recent notable deaths!!
A University of Auckland article from 2023 identifies Professor Peter Stone as a family member of Russell Stone.
So this isn't merely two unrelated names appearing in the same photograph. There is a documented family connection as well.
Another twin heads upp?!
BUTT, the research trail doesn't end there.
And What Does Professor Peter Stone Research?!
Curious about the other Peter Stone, I went looking for information on his academic career.
It turns out that Professor Peter Stone is an obstetrician and specialist in maternal–fetal medicine.
He graduated in medicine from the University of Auckland in 1975, subsequently worked in Wellington, and became Professor of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Auckland in 1998.
His research includes fetal physiology, maternal health during pregnancy, prenatal screening, early pregnancy development and related areas.
He retired from the university in 2023, although he has continued research and academic supervision.
Now WHY should this be of particular interest to me?!
Remember the earlier Peter connection in Part 1?
PETER MEDAWAR!!
Medawar, born February 28, 1915, and deceased October 2, 1987, shared those calendar dates with Bruce George Baird, whose name produced BIRD when the letter A was removed.
That discovery led directly into the scientific history of natural chimerism.
Medawar shared the 1960 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work on acquired immunological tolerance.
His scientific work built upon earlier observations involving blood-cell chimerism in cattle twins, including research by Ray D. Owen.
And natural human chimerism is a subject that has been central to my research and writing, including my novel Mwany.
So consider how this particular research trail has developed:
We began with BIRD and WING.
That led to PETER MEDAWAR and the scientific history of CHIMERISM.
The recurring PETER names brought in ROCK and STONE.
AND now, following another recent notable death, RUSSELL STONE, I encounter PETER STONE, whose own field involves maternal–fetal medicine and prenatal development!!
Of course, Medawar's work in immunology and Professor Stone's work in fetal medicine are different areas of research. BUTT, both intersect with questions surrounding fetal development, biological identity and the processes relevant to understanding some forms of natural chimerism.
For someone already researching these subjects, it's certainly an interesting turn in the trail.
AND All This Just Before Halloween!!
The name PETER has now cropped upp in so many different forms: Peter, Pete, Pietro, Pierre, Pedro, Petr…
AND we've connected it with ROCK and STONE.
At the same time, the seasonal connection is staring us in the face:
PETER, PETER, PUMPKIN EATER!!
The famous Halloween pumpkin… the carved jack-o'-lantern.
A further addition to the “Timely” pattern cluster.
My observations involve several overlapping categories: “Word in Name,” “Remove a Letter in Name Makes a Word,” “2nd Day,” “Targeting Family Birthdays,” and now another particularly noticeable “Timely” connection.
Whether these patterns have a meaning beyond coincidence remains a question. The names, dates and scientific histories are things we can independently check; my interpretation of their appearance together is what I'm continuing to explore.
BUTT, one thing is certain: the latest discoveries have brought the research right back to one of my central interests—natural chimerism.
From PETER MEDAWAR to PETER STONE.
From BIRD to ROCK to STONE.
AND from PETER to the Halloween PUMPKIN!!
Hmmm… another twin heads upp?!
To be continued…
🎃 HALLOWEEN HERO SERIES — READ ALL FOUR PARTS
Part 1 — Peter Peter Pumpkin Gorger
Part 2 — Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater… AND Peter Stone
Part 3 — Peter STONE, Father GOOSE, JACK GOOD and a Pumpkin King!!
Part 4 — The HALLO-QUEEN'S 23rd DAY
Part 5– Banana Law List
Follow the Peter/Bird/Rock/Stone research trail as it unfolds!</
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