Peter Nosler

Peter Nosler
November 3, 2023
Peter Nosler, co-founder of DPR Construction, passed away peacefully on November 3rd while traveling in Europe with his family. He was 83. Born in Portland to parents Lyle and Betty, Peter moved to California to pursue a doctorate in Physics at UC Berkeley in the late 1960s. There he met his future wife, Kay Hanson, with whom he shares his only child, Zander. They settled in Menlo Park, where Peter climbed the ranks at Rudolph and Sletten, developing his expertise first as a builder and later as a construction manager.
In 1990, Peter, along with Doug Woods and Ron Davidowski, pooled their resources and founded DPR Construction with only $750K. The three industry veterans, along with eight employees, set out to do something different in a sector traditionally resistant to change. Guided by a strong sense of purpose ('we exist to build great things') and four core values (integrity, enjoyment, uniqueness, ever forward), the "lettermen," as some liked to call them, set the foundation for what is now the nation's 6th largest construction company. Spanning three continents, DPR currently has over $9 billion in annual revenue and more than 10,000 employees. Beyond the scale and scope of their success, Peter was most proud of the culture that he and his teammates created at DPR, where innovation, collaboration, honesty, fairness, employee ownership, and fun remain the core tenets.
Always committed to bettering the world, Peter played an integral role in starting the DPR Foundation, a nonprofit that supports under-resourced youth, and DPR's Community Initiatives program, focused on building possibilities for disadvantaged communities. Every year, thousands of DPR employees volunteer their professional skills through this program, a testament to the infectious spirit of generosity Peter brought to everything he did. Although he remained connected to DPR until the end of his life, Peter enthusiastically embraced his well-earned retirement. He traveled around the world enjoying, studying, and collecting modern art and devoted countless hours to volunteer endeavors at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Chautauqua Institute, and his grandchildren's high school Sonoma Academy, where he lent his expertise to the construction planning of two major new buildings.
Widowed in 2010, Peter married the second great love of his life, fellow art enthusiast Julie Veitch, in 2012. Together, they shared a passion for friends, family, modern art, and travel.
Peter will be remembered for his exceptional kindness, unfaltering integrity, fierce enthusiasm, infinite curiosity, crazy socks, and above all, for his belief in our shared human capacity for greatness and love.
In addition to his beloved wife, Julie, he is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Zander and Tory Nosler, and his three grandchildren, of whom he was most proud: Clare, Silas, and Ryden.
For those wishing to honor Peter, please consider making a contribution to the Food Bank for Monterey County (https://foodbankformontereycounty.org) or the Chautauqua Institution's Climate Change Initiative (Mail checks to Chautauqua Institution, PO Box 28, Chautauqua, NY 14722 or online at https://giving.chq.org/chq-fund/).