Peter Satori

PETER SATORI Peter Satori was born in Europe (though he professed to have a Pasadenian accent) on July 28, 1913, and was raised in England where he developed a passion for fine motor cars. He began his long career in the automobile industry working for Ford Motor Company in England, serving with the British Army Motor Corps in the Middle East during World War II. He immigr ated to the United States, via Montreal, Canada, shortly after the end of WWII. He made his way out West, where he became the first importer of foreign cars on the West Coast in 1947 - initially opening a dealership in Berkeley, then in Southern California. He was the first Rolls Royce concessionaire west of the Mississippi. In addition to Rolls Royce, he imported Bentley, Jaguars, Aston Martin, DKW (precursor to the Audi), MG, Mercedes-Benz, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Austin, Simca, Citroen, Facel Vega, Jensen, the original Mini-Cooper, Morris Minor, and at one time had several dealerships in operation between Northern and Southern California. In the beginning, he piloted a small plane between Southern and Northern California to commute between the offices. He also enjoyed racing cars in Pebble Beach and Sears Point Raceway. Perhaps his most ambitious and creative endeavor was a do-it-yourself auto shop that he opened in Eagle Rock for a few years. Though it did not take off as a great success, it was a model for a business back East. Among his customers, were several notables: Sarah Churchill, Sammy Davis, Jr., Fats Domino, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Jayne Mansfield, Dean Martin, Groucho Marx, Ray Milland, and Elizabeth Taylor, to name a few. Peter was so intent on working hard and establishing himself in the U.S. that he did not marry and start a family until he was in his early 40's. This eligible bachelor met and fell in love with a French woman - Claudia Bergada - who had grown up in Tahiti. They made a handsome couple - Peter as the ever distinguished European gentleman and Claudia, with her movie star beauty, French accent, and exotic Tahitian flair. They were social darlings wherever they went. They lived in Flintridge for the first years. Their union was blessed by three daughters - Claudia (after her mother), Petrina (after her father, when turned out not to be the boy they expected) and Eva (after her grandmother on her father's side). At that point they moved to Pasadena and lived on a hi ll overlooking the Rose Bowl, where they stayed for 24 years. The family spent summers and holidays in Montecito; Peter and Claudia retiring there in 1982. In March 1966, Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh presented him with an award "In Recognition of his Outstanding Contribution to the British Automobile Manufacturers Association in the United States of America" He was a member of the Pasadena Main Chapter of Rotary International and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the NADA and a founding member of the Pasadena Motor Car Dealers Association. In later years, Peter downsized to one location on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena next to the Norton Simon Art Museum. He was known and respected as a businessman of great integrity back when that was an achievable goal in the auto business. As an individual, Peter Satori was a worldly man who loved literature and planned to spend his retirement reading large works such as history of the world, until age-related eyesight limitations at the a ge of 80, which altered those plans entirely. Around this time, his wife Claudia, died suddenly, which further altered his plans. He kept his love of classical music and symphony and enjoyed both at high volume whenever he could. He was an avid fan and felt personally involved with the characters, especially Cosmos Kramer. His favorite all time movie was "Down and Out in Beverly Hills". His favorite comedian was Red Skelton. He was fascinated with history and with religion, as it related to the various periods of history. He was fluent in English, French, German, and spoke a smattering of Russian. He loved sweets, especially cherries and chocolate. He could have been a one man ad campaign for Ricola lozenges. He was progressive and open-minded in managing his health, investing in massages and personal trainers before it was popular and until the very end. As a father, he was devoted to his daughters, never afraid to share his worldly opinion or express concerns and support. He would take them on "safa ris" test driving Land Rovers from his dealership into Pasadena Arroyos on the weekends with picnic lunches. All three daughters garnered their initial work experience at their father's dealership along with his impeccable business ethics. Peter tried to equip his daughters well for the lives that lay ahead of them - an avid boater, he taught them to sail and to operate and maintain his 28 foot Trojan cabin cruiser (named after his mother) which was moored in the Santa Barbara harbor. He enjoyed boatin g to the Channel Islands. He encouraged his daughters to stay acquainted with their European ancestry, making sure that each traveled extensively in Europe. His love of family extends to Viviane Satori, his niece in Nice, France, and the only child of his only and deceased brother, Leopold. Peter Satori will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know his quick wit, intelligence, and amazing memory that stayed with him to the end along with his unfailingly upbeat attitude. He remains revered by pa st employees who sought him out up until his last days, as well as his medical team with whom he traded jokes; a couple of these special physicians came to visit him in his last days. He was an incredible human being and a very tough act to follow for men in his daughters' lives. Peter Satori died at home on April 25, 2003 due to "failure to thrive", at the age of 89. He is survived by his three daughters - Claudia Satori of Thousand Oaks and her two children, Jessica and Matthew Carroll, by Petrina Sato ri-Britt (Robert) of Princeville, Kauai and her three children, Justin, Jake, and Jesse Britt; by Eva Satori of Brentwood; and by his niece, Viviane Satori of Nice, France and her daughter Tiziana, of Paris, France. His daughters will especially miss their daily telephone conversations - trading jokes, garnering his interpretation of world news, and especially the sharing of afternoon tea and cookies, when together in person. He was the axis around which the Satori family revolved. His life force will be so rely missed by everyone, but as he would have said - it was time to "fermer son parapluie" (close his umbrella). According to his wishes, there will be no memorial service. The family suggests donations in Peter Satori's name to the Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI) at 734 Fairmount Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105-9971.