Peter Melvoin

Peter Melvoin died peacefully in his sleep on June 12, 2025.

He lived in Redmond, WA near Idylwood Park for over 30 years. In 2022, he moved to Olympia to be near his daughter. He spent the last year at Fieldstone Assisted Living in Olympia, WA who provided him with excellent food and care.

Born July 31, 1940, in Chicago, IL to Gladys and Sidney Melvoin. Peter was the 2nd child of two. His older brother Michael Melvoin was a jazz musician who passed away in 2012. Raised in Milwaukee, they had what he described as a typical 1950s childhood, with less supervision due to his mother's illness. His favorite haunt was a nearby patch of woods where he and his friends regularly had bonfires and smoked cigarettes (he deeply regretted being a smoker).

His love of food and insatiable curiosity about different cultures led him to study Sociology. He attended the University of Illinois. It was there that he met Linda Peters, his first wife and the mother of his only child. They lived in Brazil for almost a year as part of their studies. After graduation they moved to Scottsdale so he could attend Arizona State University, where he got his master's degree. In 1966 they moved to Seattle so that Linda could attend the University of Washington and get her master's degree.

In 1967, Peter became a founding professor of Sociology at the newly formed Bellevue Community College where he taught for 38 years with a few significant sabbaticals. It was at BCC that he developed many lifelong friendships, both peers and students who to this day remember his eccentric humor and changes in facial hair. He loved R. Crumb and for over two decades his number was listed in the Puget Sound phone book as "Mr. Natural".

For several years he lived in Duvall, WA in a cute little cottage on Stella Rd, near Rasmussen Lake. He married his second wife Judy Marcoux, a lovely free spirit. He was active in the community and even became a City Council member. His time in Duvall was spent teaching his daughter to cook, fixing up his house, gardening, and enjoying local music festivals.

In 1980, he married Evelyn Gronlund and moved to Vancouver, BC. After a year, they moved to Kirkland. In 1990 he took a long sabbatical, and they embarked on a round-the-world trip. The objective was to live for a month in every third-world country "spending no more per day than what an average worker makes". This required he and Evelyn to live as the locals did, eat the food they ate, and experience the culture from their perspective (or at least as close as he could get to it).

The experience changed him. When he returned, he was much kinder and wiser. His love for odd foods expanded to include offal and other odd bits. He spent the rest of his life exploring every culture's food markets, delis, restaurants, food trucks, and events. Unfortunately, after the trip Evelyn's health declined, eliminating their ability to travel. His time was spent teaching and caring for her. She died in 2003.

In 2005, Peter fell in love with Lee Witter, a former colleague at Bellevue Community College. He spent considerable time with her in North Bend at her tree farm where they foraged for mushrooms, cooked amazing meals, and practiced Tai Chi. Every year they spent a couple of months in Mazatlán, where Lee's son and grandchildren live. Peter would say they were his happiest years.

In 2018, he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. They caught it early (stage 2B) and he was treated with chemo, radiation, and surgery. While he was cured, the loss of one of the lobes of his lung affected his ability to breathe. He also had significant hearing loss and mild dementia that caused him to experience vertigo and balance issues. He and Lee made the best of it, enjoying life as much as they could despite the limitations.

In his final years, his exploration of the world was limited to news and articles online. He consumed a surprising variety of news sources, both domestic and international. He was less interested in social media, instead preferring actual calls, email correspondence, and visits with friends.

Peter is survived by his daughter Leah Melvoin, son-in-law Ted DeBray, granddaughter Ursula DeBray, partner Lee Witter, Lee's children: Leslie and Greg Brady, and Greg's children: Dylan and Sara Brady, Evelyn's family: Ruth, Richard, Emma, Larry, and Frederic Miller, and sister in-law Sandra Melvoin --- all of whom Peter loved dearly.