Peter Marcus

1960 - 2023

Peter Marcus
February 18, 1960 - January 28, 2023
Bellingham, Washington - Peter Ericson Marcus passed away on January 28, 2023 after a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma. Born in New York, NY on February 18, 1960 to Stanley and Marianne Marcus, Peter and his family moved to Bellingham, Washington in 1966. He attended Happy Valley Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, and graduated with the class of 1978 from Sehome High School. He went on to study at Western Washington University where he earned a BA in Education. In 1991, Peter had identical twin daughters, Alex and Riley, with his then wife Cindy Thorneycroft. Peter spent the majority of his life in Bellingham, where he established himself as a cornerstone of the community.
Peter loved the water. He grew up sailing around the Pacific Northwest and spent many summers commercial fishing in Alaska. As he transitioned away from commercial fishing, he found paddling and quickly fell in love. No matter the day, rain or shine, you could find him paddling his surfski or outrigger canoe with a huge smile on his face. He carried his passion for the water over to his career, working over 20 years for MSRC, "playing boat" and helping to protect the environment he loved from oil spills.
Peter was a superior athlete, coach, and competitor. He loved swimming and in high school, he competed at State and YMCA Nationals. Two years after graduating from Sehome, he took over as the head coach of the swim team (1980-87), leading them to state championship titles in '86 and '87. Many years later, Peter started paddling and competed in countless races across Washington, British Columbia, the Columbia Gorge, and Hawaii. As a Bellingham local, Peter naturally found his way to the Ski to Sea, where he dominated the Kayak leg for many years. During his last few Ski to Seas, he was the Kayak Leg Chair, cementing his legacy within the paddling community. His love for paddling led to the creation of the Bellingham Rough Water race, Paddle 4 Food Relay, and annual Paddler's Film Festival.
When he wasn't playing on the water or telling cheesy dad jokes, Peter loved to work in his garden, cook meals for his family and friends, and eat delicious food. He kept a beautiful yard and spent countless hours tending to his raspberries and flower beds. You could often find him sitting on his front porch in the sunshine, watching over his flowers, keeping his eyes peeled for local wildlife and birds. His appetite for life was fueled by his love of food. There were few things Peter wouldn't try, but he was especially particular about his seafood, pastries and desserts.
Peter's biggest love was his family. He is survived and extremely loved by his twin daughters, Alex and Riley, son-in-law Clinton Overman, grandson Miller Overman, loving partner Julie Van Dooren, her children Tyler, Dayna, and Eli, his sisters Wendy and Lisa, Denali, and his amazing community of friends. We are forever grateful for all the love and support. Please join us for a Celebration of Life at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal on Sunday, February 26th from 2-4pm. Hawaiian attire is encouraged.