John Peter Baumgartner

1933 - 2015

John Peter Baumgartner

May 1, 1933 - April 30, 2015

At about 8 pm Thursday April 30, on the eve of his 82nd birthday, (John) Peter Baumgartner embarked upon his last voyage, from California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, following a lengthy illness. He was surrounded by his sister, Anne, and several of his many nieces and nephews.

Peter was born in San Francisco, California on May 1, 1933 to Elinor Lermen Baumgartner and John J. Baumgartner, Jr. He spent his early childhood in San Juan Bautista, then moved with his family to Hollister, California in 1940, where he attended Sacred Heart Parish School.

After graduating from Sacred Heart in 1947, Peter attended The Thacher School in California's Ojai Valley, class of 1951. One of his most cherished memories was riding horseback from Thacher with his classmate, Kenneth Scott, through the Carrizo Plain grasslands to his home in San Benito County, stopping at many of the old California ranches along the way. For this adventure, Peter was slated to be on the cover of Life Magazine, but the story was scuttled by news of the outbreak of the Korean War.

After Thacher, Peter went on to Stanford University (Class of 1955), where he began officer training for the Navy. He became a noncommissioned officer following graduation, and over the next decade rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, finally serving on the U.S.S. Savage in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. On leaving the Navy, Peter got a law degree from Santa Clara University then joined the legal department at PG&E in San Francisco.

Following in both grandfather's footsteps, Peter was an active member of the Bohemian Club as well as the Pacific Union Club. Peter was also a member of the Knights of Malta and served on the boards of the Holy Family Day Care and the California Pioneer Society. He was a proud alumni of The Thacher School, serving many years as a member of the Board of Trustees. A long-time San Francisco resident, he was a member of St. Cecilia's Parish.

A lover of dogs and opera, history - especially California history - travel, trains and railways, Peter was equally happy quietly enjoying the camaraderie of friends and grandly marking special moments with bold speeches and poetry recitations. He loved Lake Tahoe and the Bohemian Grove and was known for wearing jaunty hats and handsome bow ties.

Peter will be greatly missed by his sister, Anne Baumgartner Morris, and brother-in-law, Richard B. Morris, his eight nieces and nephews, Amy, Joe, Ellen, Margaret, Molly, Carrie, Katie and Richard Morris Jr., their spouses, and his eleven loving grandnieces and grandnephews. Following a family service, Peter will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.