Edward Peter McGettigan

Edward McGettigan Obituary

Edward Peter McGettigan
November 27, 1945 - June 14, 2018
A Longtime Resident of Santa Cruz
Edward Peter McGettigan, also known as Peter McGettigan, passed away June 14, 2018 in Santa Cruz, California, where he had been a resident since 1975. Peter is descended from four first families – Vallejo, Lugo, Carrillo, Lopez - that came to California with Fr. Serra, Portolá, Rivera and Anza beginning in 1774. He is the great, great grandson of General M.G. Vallejo and Doña Francisca Carrillo Vallejo, grandson of Francisca Vallejo McGettigan and Dr. Charles D. McGettigan and son of Edward Platon McGettigan and Betty Brummund.
Peter was born in St. Mary's hospital in San Francisco and raised in Menlo Park. Peter was a percussionist and musician in the Palo Alto Military Band, Peninsula Symphony, and California Youth Symphony. He traveled with CYS for a month long concert tour of Japan in 1963. Always interested in theater, acting, and production, Peter's video history goes back to 8mm movies shorts in the 1960's. He moved to Hollywood after graduation from high school and worked as an apprentice on the now cult classic television show, "Gilligan's Island," for three seasons in the script division as on-site assistant dialog director and was exposed to editing and direction.
While a film major at Foothill College in Los Altos, his student film "Tarot Tripping" won first place honors in the film festival when he was there. Peter then ran the 13th, 14th and 15th independent film festivals for the college. He coordinated all the judging, screenings, guest lectures, and seminars, preparing him to be asked to start Santa Cruz's first film festival.
Peter moved to Santa Cruz in 1975 and became well known and recognized for his extensive documentaries, producing, directing, editing and chronicling that community's history. When in 2010, Peter received the Gail Rich Award, it was said that "his mantra is – tape everything" and that "Peter is always shooting."
Peter has over the years, produced thousands of hours of programs and recorded 700 City Council meetings. He worked with community Television of Santa Cruz County and earned six awards from West Coast Alliance of Community Television Stations for video excellence for his documentaries. Peter was on the City of Santa Cruz Advisory Board, the Historic Preservation Commission, Friends of the Del Mar Theatre, and the Museum of Art and Histories Blue Plaque Committee.
It was proclaimed by then Mayor Don Lane of Santa Cruz that: 12/08/2015 as Peter McGettigan Day and encouraged council members and all citizens to express heartfelt appreciation for his 15 years of dedication in recording City Council meetings as well as the multitude of other ways that he has worked on behalf of the Santa Cruz Community.
Current Mayor David J. Terrazas, stated that "Peter was an amazing person who put Santa Cruz front and center with all that he did." This could come from Peter's ancestral history where his 3rd great grandfather, Ignacio Vallejo was associated with Branciforte and Santa Cruz. Peter joined the Navy in 1966 and completed two tours of duty in Viet Nam. Every year, until the last several, Peter volunteered for the Veterans serving Thanksgiving dinners and dressing as Santa Claus.
He is survived by his sister, Martha Ann Francisca McGettigan of Pope Valley, California and Mary Karl McGettigan of Coos Bay, Oregon. Peter was predeceased by his father, mother, and younger brother, Michael Vallejo McGettigan.
It was said that Peter's shooting, editing or directing the people and events capturing Santa Cruz for posterity, show what makes Santa Cruz County what it is. Memorial contributions may be made to your favorite Veterans organization. For memorial information or to express condolences to the family, view photos or share memories, please visit www.scmemorial.com Peter's comment just this week was "I feel so lucky living in Santa Cruz."
He will be greatly missed.

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Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Jun. 24, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Edward McGettigan

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11 Entries

Barbara L Fontaine

April 12, 2021

I just found out 2 days ago that Peter has died. Been traveling back through memory lane since then. What a loss of a great human. I was 19 when I met Peter and his dog, Zig, in Ocean Beach in 1970. So much charisma and no macho. I liked that. He had recently gotten out of the navy and working hard to make up for lost time. So good times were in order. And that's what we had. I had left home in Sacramento for better weather, a beach, and seeking adventure with my girlfriend Kim. We found a little rental in Ocean Beach and quickly became friends with Peter and his friends who lived in a big old house lacking electricity but I think it had water...but who needs that stuff anyway? Peter was the ring leader of out little group. It was a time in life to just live. So Peter became the perfect companion. During this time in OB, Peter decided to make a movie on him 8mm movie camera. He organized several shootings and all our fiends were in it. He edited it over many days and we had a "showing" ...It was a very big hit and everyone had their own interpretation of what it actually meant. Many different ideas were offered up. We begged Peter to tell us the message behind his film but he just smiled and took great pleasure in hearing all the different interpretationsnd--and he never said. Peter left OB to hike the Muir trail and I headed to Louisiana for a big rock concert. We somehow managed to reconnect (by communicating via the US mail!) at Lake Tahoe. He had just completed the Muir trail and boy did he look good!!! Love ensued.
We were together for around a year, but Peter was a free spirit and so it was time to move on. We stayed in touch for another couple of years, when he visited me at Lake Tahoe where I lived. He was always kind, considerate, playful, and so much fun to be around. We lost touch when I left Lake Tahoe to go to college and unfortunately I never saw him again.

It sounds like he made a great impact on Santa Cruse, which of course is no surprise. Peter was just "one of those people"

Rest in Peace my dear friend.

Ronne Marino

June 18, 2020

My Dear Bestie Peter, It has been two years since you left us, I miss you each and everyday, Your Sister Mary and I talked on the anniversary of your passing, we love to share stories of you, you the big brother, Miss your humor,your wonderful creative spirit,your kind and nonjudgmental soul. I forever will miss you. Until we meet again,Love Love and more Love

Ann Arnold Haley

August 18, 2018

Peter was a man of many talents who gave to everyone. I met him because I knew his grandmother when she lived in Portola Valley. He had her hospitality and many artistic qualities. He is a great loss to all.

Joe Grossman

July 9, 2018

He was such a humble, tireless and great person. With a perfect mixture of gravitas and lightness. I remember during the time when I was hosting on Charlie Phillips' Voices from the Village, Peter walked up to me and handed me some ties. No discussion of wardrobe. I took it graciously, as it was offered. Will be sorely missed.

Hey Peter, you are awesome and hilarious! Thank you for being you!

Susan Liebl

July 7, 2018

John Maleta Vukasovich

June 27, 2018

Our Condolences to Peter's sisters and to the McGettigan Families of San Francisco.
I was introduced to Peter some Forty years ago, through mutual friends, at a holiday party he hosted at his home in Capitola. I still remember the beautiful aroma of bay laurel garlanding. I also recall meeting Peter's charming Mother there at a later event. Even my sister-in-law spoke of Peter from their first meeting in the 1970's, when he worked at her families' Soquel winery (Bargetto). Always ready for epicurean delights, Peter was a wonderful dining companion with a vast knowledge of wine, who bore a remarkable resemblance to his ancestor General Mariano Vallejo! Sadly, we'll miss his company, for 2018 marks my families' 140th anniversary as Soquel/Santa Cruz pioneers (Gafvert/Bergstrom). So, now we shall light a candle in honor and memory of Peter at Grace Cathedral and raise a toast to our illustrious families at the Big 4! Here's to "Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams." Pack light.....There are no closets in Heaven!
With Sympathy,

June 24, 2018

Peter was a good friend, I was saddened to hear of his passing yesterday, He was creative,Fun, Love to dress up and happy. My friend you will be missed...My Condolences to Peter Family and his many Friends...R.I.P. Peter

Peter Downtown on Halloween..Santa Cruz will be missing a great Friend

Ronne Marino

June 24, 2018

June Hoffman

June 21, 2018

Wow! I am so sorry to learn of Peter's death. He was a faithful guest of Hoffman's and so much more. I loved his stories and his sense of humor and especially his Halloween costumes. He was so kind to our family as well. He was one of the people I had hoped to continue to be friends with once Hoffman's closed. He was a one in a million. He will be missed in Santa Cruz.

June Hoffman

June 21, 2018

June Hoffman

Alexis Brennan

June 21, 2018

What an asset Mr. Mcgettigan was to his community! It is hard not to be reminded of the ancient words of King Solomon found in Proverbs that says, "Have you seen a man skillful at his work? He will stand before kings." As Mr. Mcgettigan rests, please accept our deepest condolences and do remember that God "is close to those broken at heart."- the Brennans

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