Peter Luke Najarian

Peter Luke Najarian, 88, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, surrounded by the family he loved and devoted his life to. He will be greatly missed for being a guiding light, a source of contagious positivity and steadfast loyalty, and for his role as an anchor in the extended Najarian family. His warm and charming presence made him a consummate leader and a force that inspired and comforted simultaneously.

Born on March 18, 1937, in Swanton, OH, to Peter and Alice (Luke) Najarian, Peter grew up on the family farm in a time when hard work was expected early, and character mattered. He learned responsibility from his hard-working parents and extended family and carried it with him the rest of his life. Never one to chase attention or praise, instead, he relied on his quiet confidence, showed up, kept his word, and did things properly, even when no one was watching. He always encouraged hard work, but never lost sight of the value of relaxing, enjoying accomplishments, and slowing down with loved ones. A piece of sage advice resonated - "The harder you work, the luckier you get." He lived and thrived by this rule and taught it to those lucky enough to call him family or friend.

Peter graduated from Swanton High School in 1956. He was Class President his sophomore, junior, and senior years, as well as Student Council President his senior year. Peter lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track while at Swanton, and was also his graduating class salutatorian. In 2021, he was inducted into the Swanton High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

In 1956, Peter was accepted into the University of Toledo's engineering program and played QB for the Rockets football team until his engineering studies took precedence. He graduated in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering. In 1961, he accepted a position in a two-year training program at the Chevrolet Toledo Transmission Plant. This was the beginning of his impressive career with the General Motors Corporation (GM), a tenure that lasted forty years.

In 1962, Peter received his master's degree in mechanical engineering and was recognized as the Outstanding Graduate Student among all graduating students with a 4.0 GPA.

In 1966, he was promoted to General Supervisor of Production, and in 1970 was promoted again to Superintendent of Production at the Toledo plant. In 1973, Peter was granted yet another promotion - Department Head of the Industrial Engineering Department. In 1974, he was transferred to the Muncie, Indiana, Chevrolet Plant, where he served as the General Superintendent of Production, overseeing the activities of over 2,000 employees. He and his wife raised their three children in Muncie, providing them with a nurturing environment in a wholesome small-town community, which allowed them to thrive and grow learning from their father's work ethic and values. The family was there for 13 years.

In Muncie, Peter was the president of the Chamber of Commerce and also served on its Board of Directors. While president, he spearheaded the building of a new 4-lane highway to connect Muncie to Indianapolis, decreasing travel times - the extension was thus named "Pete's Pike."

In 1987, Peter was transferred to the Toledo Powertrain Transmission Plant where he was responsible for 4,000 employees and a very large production operation.

Pete, as everyone called him at GM (only his mom could call him Peter Luke!), was known by all and highly regarded at the GM plants where he supervised thousands of employees over his long and accomplished career. Pete was beyond respected and viewed not only as a colleague but a trusted friend to all. He always had time to walk the plant floors and say hello, ask about family members, and make sure everyone had what they needed. This continued well into his retirement years. After retiring in 2000, he often attended GM retirement luncheons and events, even in his last week of life, catching up with old friends and colleagues. Pete took great pride in and truly loved his work. Being able to connect with people with his sincere and gregarious personality was a rare gift.

Family was the center of Peter's world. He and his loving and devoted wife, Donna, created a beautiful home, a place of inclusion and warmth, where children and grandchildren were always welcome, comfort food was always at the ready, and the stories he loved to tell were often repeated, becoming more and more cherished with each telling.

To those who knew him well, Peter was a man of great humor and deep wisdom and got the gift of gab from his mother. He spoke thoughtfully and listened carefully. He had a gift for offering advice without insisting it be taken, and for making others feel steady simply by being present.

In later years, Peter embraced aging with humility and grace. As an avid golfer his entire adult life, Peter enjoyed time on the golf course with friends and family and was always working on the "perfect swing." Peter was known to videotape his swing via VHS and analyze it over and over long before technology caught up with this kind of passion! With Donna by his side, he remained curious, engaged with the world, and was grateful for all he had and for all of his many, many loved ones. To him, success was not about accomplishments but rather defined by the relationships he maintained; those he loved endlessly and those who loved him in return just as much and more. Family above all else, not just in theory but in everyday practice.

Peter is survived by his unwaveringly supportive and devoted wife Donna, 5 children, Jeffrey Najarian, Kimberly Najarian Young (Steve), Kathy Najarian Juengel (David), Kimberly Pollex Gabel (Craig), and Kurt Pollex (Jennifer) and 8 adoring grandchildren: Lucas and Audrey Young, Nathan, Caroline, Maggie and Charlie Gabel, Sean and Sidney Pollex.

He also leaves behind a legacy of steadiness, humility, and love - a life well lived, and well given.

Visitation shall be at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, Ohio, 43623 on Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 2-8 pm. A funeral mass shall be at Christ the King Church, 4100 Harvest Ln., (between Sylvania and Monroe St.) Toledo, Ohio, 43623 on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 10:30 am. A private burial will take place after at Toledo Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in Peter's memory can be made to Wakeland Housing (501C non-for-profit corporation - Najarian Family Giving Fund) for their supportive emergency housing needs for San Diego County low income and disabled residents. Checks can be mailed to and made out to Wakeland Housing, Attention Najarian Family Giving Fund, 1230 Columbia St., Suite 950, San Diego, CA, 92101.