Jack Peltier

1930 - 2023

Jack George Peltier – An "American Dream" story.

Jack George Peltier died on April 21, 2023, surrounded by family members at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va. Jack was born on August 6, 1930, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, the only child of Jean and Olga Peltier.

Jack was a teenager when France was liberated from Nazi occupation by the United States Army. Jack befriended a GI, Ben Stewart who was looking for help with purchasing French perfume for his girlfriend in America. Jack spoke excellent English and subsequently invited Ben home to have dinner with the family. Ben became a friend of the family and sponsored Jack to come to the US as a high school senior. He jumped at the chance. Following high school, Jack returned to France before coming back to Atlanta, GA to attend University. Ben sponsored Jack again to attend Georgia State University and ultimately obtain his US citizenship. Jack was a fierce patriot of the United States, and this was one of his proudest moments.

(In preparation we referenced information from a short book Jack wrote about his life for his family. This lays out his working history as a young man starting life in the U.S. in his own words.)

To live the American dream, I understood what I needed to bring to the table: honesty, hard work, courage, commitment, and much more! I started by serving my country before it became mine. Completing my university education, one of my top priorities, was accomplished while I had a full-time job. One of Americas greatest companies, IBM, provided me with a great business education and experience. In return, I served them well.To continue my climb, I left IBM for Scripto Inc, where I learned international operations from the ground up. I moved my young family to New York when I accepted a job with HD Lee Company (Lee Jeans) to take the company international. As export manager and later director of International Operations a great team and I took sales from $300k to $25 million. We earned two separate Citations for Excellence for International Trade from the President of the United States. I reached my goal of becoming a VP before I was forty and I did this with 4 months to spare. HD Lee was acquired by VF Corporation in 1969 and I was selected by the chairman to direct all global operations as corporate VP and later President of the International Division of VF. When I left some years later sales, in 1982, we were approaching the quarter billion-dollar mark. Starting a small consulting company of my own followed my corporate career. The company served several well-known corporations and foreign governments in the area of international marketing and industrial development. Retired to Crozet, Va. in 1989, where I volunteered my time to SCORE, a national non-profit organization providing assistance to small businesses. This gave me the opportunity to give back, in some small way, to this great country. In 2014 I was honored with the SCORE top national Gold Member Award for meritorious service by the Chairman of the Board of this great organization.

Jack lived in Crozet with his wife enjoying his volunteer work, gardening, food, wine, family and the many friends they made over the years. Summer seasons devoted maximum effort to keep the pool beautiful and fridge full of ice cream for the grandchildren.

Jack is survived by his wife of 71 years, Pamela Donna Benton, born January 12, 1930. Jack and Pamela were classmates first, destined to become lifelong partners. They were married in 1952 and raised 3 children, Patricia Aimee, N.Y., born 1953, Joel Stanley, born 1958, Mich., and Leslie Yvonne, born 1960, Ga. Jack was deeply committed to his family and adored his five grandchildren, Sydney Peltier-Creviston, Chicago, Melanie Peltier-Hill, Chicago, Madeleine Hansen Peltier, La Crosse, Wisc., Sean Michael Gwin, Sugar Hill, Ga., and Trevor Jack Gwin, Athens, Ga.; as well as four great-grandchildren, Skylar Gwin, Forrest Gwin, Oliver Creviston, and Margaux Creviston.

A celebration of life party will be held July 2023.