Peter DeCourcy Hero

In Loving Memory
Peter deCourcy Hero
September 10, 1942 - August 21, 2016
Peter deCourcy Hero, born September 10, 1942 in Washington, DC to Lt. Colonel Andrew Hero III and Gertrude Faust Hero, died August 21, 2016 after a yearlong battle with cancer. The family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1955, where Peter graduated high school from Fountain Valley School of Colorado. He went on to earn a BA in History and MA in Art History from Williams College and a MBA from Stanford University School of Business.
Following a brief stint in the private sector after graduating from Stanford, Peter devoted the rest of his life to public service. He served as Executive Director of the Oregon Arts Commission, and President of the Maine College of Art, before becoming President and CEO of the Community Foundation Silicon Valley in 1989. He was recognized worldwide as one of the foremost authorities on the creation and strategic guidance of community foundations. Peter led the creation of a network of community foundations in former Communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In recognition of this work, Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel appointed him to the 2002 NATO Summit Council in Prague. After leaving Community Foundation Silicon Valley in 2008, he was Vice President for Development and Institute Relations at California Institute of Technology.
His contributions to the field of philanthropy were many and varied. Peter received Presidential Appointments to the National Endowment of the Arts twice. He was Founding Chairman of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Foundation and an enthusiastic member of the Board of Directors of Sesame Workshop. Peter served as a founding member of the Skoll Foundation, Ebay Foundation, Pax-Vax, and the Council on Foundations. He also chaired the World Bank Advisory Committee on Global Community Foundation Development.
Peter was a mentor to many in Silicon Valley. His legacy for advancing philanthropy as a way of life throughout the world has inpired countless others to follow his lead. Peter believed fervently that one's wealth can and must contribute to making our world a better place.
Peter is pre-deceased by his father Andrew Hero III, his mother Gertrude Faust Hero Peters, and his step-father James Girvin Peters. He is survived by his wife Bonnie; sons Alexander and Christopher (Amy); daughter Molly (Chris Richman); brothers Andrew Hero (Jeanne) and Girvin Peters (Lesley). During the last years of his life, Peter's greatest enjoyment was spending time with his granddaughters, Isla Richman and Harper Hero.


View the online memorial for Peter deCourcy Hero