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PETER MACGOWAN Obituary

Peter Macgowan "A Life Well Lived" Longtime Tiburon resident Peter Macgowan passed away on the evening of August 13th, 2013 with his family by his bedside at the home he designed and helped to build. Peter was 93 years old. Peter lived a long and fulfilling life. He was married to his wife Barbara for 66 years, having met her on a blind date during WW II. Peter was born in New York City and spent the first 11 years of his life living in Manhattan where his father produced critically acclaimed plays for the famous playwright Eugene O'Neill. In 1931, Peter moved to Southern California with his family as his dad took a job in the booming movie industry and produced many popular films in the 1930 and 40s for two of the major studios in Hollywood. While he was a teenager, Peter became an excellent golfer and also learned how to fly airplanes. After obtaining a degree in Political Science from Harvard University in 1942, Peter immediately joined the Army-Air Force and taught flying at military bases in Northern California before shipping out to the Pacific during the last year of the war. Peter flew P-38s in several missions over Japan, and was later part of the occupational force after the end of the war. Following his return to the U.S. and release from the military in 1946, Peter married Barbara Jane Wright and the two moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts where he received his Masters Degree in Architecture. Their first son, Paul, was born shortly before the couple moved to Marin County, and Peter found work with a couple of different architectural firms in San Francisco as a draftsman and a designer. In 1960, Peter became the Vice President of Lester Gorsline Associates in Tiburon, and spent the next 17 years of his career as a specialist, helping to plan and build college, city and county medical facilities around the country and in different parts of the world. Peter also loved to travel, and he and his wife spent time in Russia, Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America, the South Pacific, as well as China where the couple lived for a year while they both taught at a University in Beijing in the mid 1980s. Peter was also very involved in the Tiburon community for many years, and was the first Planning Commissioner of Tiburon when it became a city in 1964. He was also very involved in the Marin Ecumenical Housing Association for a number of years. Peter was a terrific golfer and captain of his college team during his undergrad years at Harvard, and he also loved the outdoors. He introduced his family to hiking and backpacking and would take them numerous times to the Sierras, the Cascades, and the Tetons among other places, for one to two week camping trips. He also loved the beach and bodysurfed for many years until he was well into his 70s. Peter was also a big sports fan, and loved going to watch Major League Baseball, NFL and college football, and pro basketball games with his family. As a child he was a big fan of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the Yankees, but he later became a follower of the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants. He also played baseball in both high school and college and later coached for several years in the Tiburon Little League. Peter was a gentle soul who always took an interest in people, and always believed in helping out his friends and family. He loved animals as well and had a number of dogs over the years, but his most beloved pet might have been 'Harry' a Dandy Dinmont who survives him and still lives with his wife, Barbara. Peter is missed by his wife, Barbara, his son Bruce Macgowan and daughter-in-law Colette daughter Becky Steere and son-in-law Thom, and his two granddaughters, McKenna Steere of Mill Valley, and Molly Macgowan of Fairfax. A memorial to celebrate Peter's life will be held in at the Tiburon Community Congregational Church, 145 Rock Hill Road, in Tiburon on Tuesday afternoon, September 10th at 5:00PM.

Published by Marin Independent Journal from Aug. 31 to Sep. 2, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
for PETER MACGOWAN

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We will always remember you! A fine gentleman, who loved his friends and family. We miss you and your sense of humor. So glad to have known you all my life! Love to Becky and Bruce, from all the Coolidges.

Mary Coolidge Tetrault

Friend

August 23, 2022

Bruce, I'm sorry I missed the memorial because I would have loved to hear memories about him and tributes. From our conversations he sounded like a man who had a profound impact on you -- much like my dad had on me -- and though they are gone their memories and their lessons still live on through us. God bless you and your family!

Dave Albee

September 24, 2013

One of my very best friends since high school.You will be missed and I will grieve for you for the rest of my life.; Much love: Johnny Partridge

September 13, 2013

We had a wonderful Memorial service for dad on Tuesday night, September 10th in Tiburon for dad. About 75 folks, young and old showed up, many old and familiar and dear friends from Tiburon. There was music, laughter and tears as we shared our memories and thoughts of this wonderful man, father, husband, uncle, father in law and dear friend. It was a special evening and it was my honor to be the official
"Master of Ceremonies' at my dad's Memorial. I couldn't be more proud to be the son of Peter Macgowan, a truly wonderful father who set a great example and will always be my hero! Your loving son-Bruce

Bruce Macgowan

September 10, 2013

What a wonderful man! We always enjoyed our lunches at Sam's while visiting Calif.

Peter and Sandra Macgowan

September 9, 2013

My wife and I met Mr Macgowan very late in his life, he was not in good health, yet, we could tell he was a man of dignity and integrity. I'm sure he will make heaven a better place. Rest in peace.

Mac Pourtabib

September 5, 2013

What a treasure in life Peter was.

How grateful I am to experience how kind human kind can be.

Will always remember how his eyes lit up the room.

Life living well done Peter!

Jennifer Butters

September 5, 2013

We are so grateful to have met Peter thirteen years ago when we moved to Marin. He was so joyful,warm and kind hearted, a great soul...like a friend you have known your entire life.

We send our love to Barbara, Becky, Bruce, Thom, Colette, McKenna and Molly.

Nancy and Jim Puckett

September 5, 2013

Peter Macgowan was a wonderful father who always took the time to listen and to help his kids and his friends. He was also a man who cared much about his community and he took great pride in making Tiburon a better place to live. But what I'll remember about dad the most was our times hiking, bodysurfing, playing ball together and going to games. Thanks Dad! Love-Your son Bruce

Bruce Macgowan

September 5, 2013

I had the good fortune to do various jobs for Peter and Barbara years ago. I always enjoyed his company, his sense of humor, and his joyful creativity. I'll miss him.

Peter Amick

September 4, 2013

It was an honor and a privilege for me to take care of this gentle person in his last 2 1/2 years. He has enriched my life and many others.

Ramon Blanch

September 2, 2013

Peter was a truly wonderful man. He was always kind, patient, warm, funny, and a great lifetime friend to my mother and father and all of us Coolidge kids.I feel very lucky to have known him, and will always be grateful for his presence in my and my family's lives. Thank yo for being you. Love, Mary Coolidge Tetrault

September 2, 2013

A real sweetheart, so sorry for your lose, so glad you got to have such a darling man. Much love.

Emily Allison West

September 2, 2013

Loved that man! What a jewel! Pot sends "love and stuff." He misses his oldest and dearest friend.

Fran Partridge

September 1, 2013

Sending love to you Becky and Macgowan family.

Heather Griggs

September 1, 2013

I miss you so much Dad. We will never forget you and how much you cared about everyone.

Becky Steere

September 1, 2013

Be thankful for the many years he was
a part of your lives.

Al Dougherty

August 31, 2013

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