Peter Yarrow, a renowned folk singer and activist best known as a member of the iconic trio Peter, Paul and Mary, passed away on Tuesday at 86.

The news of his death was confirmed by his publicist, Ken Sunshine, who revealed that Yarrow had been battling bladder cancer for the past four years.  

He died at his residence on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Yarrow rose to fame in the early 1960s as part of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, alongside Paul Stookey and Mary Travers.

Born on May 31, 1938, in Manhattan, Yarrow studied at Cornell University before diving into the burgeoning folk music scene in Greenwich Village.

Beyond their Grammy-winning hits, the group’s legacy includes the beloved children’s classic “Puff, the Magic Dragon”, co-written by Yarrow.  
In addition to his music career, Mr Yarrow was a tireless advocate for civil rights, anti-war efforts, and, later, education reform.

He also founded Operation Respect, an initiative aimed at combating bullying in schools.  

Peter, Paul and Mary disbanded in 1970 but reunited for numerous performances and special occasions.

Mary Travers died in 2009, leaving Yarrow and Stookey to carry the trio’s legacy in their later years.