August 24, 1946 – April 29, 2017
Joining the Army during Vietnam, was stationed in Alaska where he sustained life threatening burn injuries over most of his body in during the 1964 Alaska earthquake. Fortunately, his handsome face was spared. After his Army discharge he became deeply involved in the gay rights movement. An avid photographer; never without his camera, he chronicled both the movement and the many changes in the Castro. His captioned and dated photos are chronologically entered in dozens of albums. He lived in an apartment at Noe and Market streets for 37 years, so he was in the center of it all.
Peter worked for Muni as a bus and streetcar operator. He retired from Muni on disability in 1984 when his battle with AIDS became all-consuming. As an injured veteran he was able to enroll in some of the early AIDS trials that were being done through the SF Veterans Hospital. One of the lucky ones, he became a long-term survivor until a combination of diabetes-related complications took him from us.
Peter always had a smile, a kind word, and loved to laugh. He will be dearly missed by his many friends and loving family.
A memorial will be held Wednesday, May 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the National AIDS Memorial Grove, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, at the intersection of Bowling Green and Nancy Pelosi drives.