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Peter M. Pfersick

Peter Pfersick Obituary

PFERSICK, Peter M. - Founder and proprietor of Looking Glass Photographic Arts in Berkeley from 1971 - 2000, passed away on April 12, 2005. Peter was a distinguished photographer, a dedicated educator and a friend to the arts community all over the world. He is survived by his wife Yolanda Juana Guiterrez Abanto Pfersick and his cat Chico. We will all miss him. A celebration of his life will be held at the studio of Davis Black and White, 2928/30 Telegraph Ave., Oakland on Saturday, April 23, 2 pm-6 pm. For more information email [email protected]

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Apr. 20, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Peter Pfersick

Sponsored by Cha Levias and Yolanda Pfersick.

22 Entries

John Thomas

April 14, 2022

So glad he was in my life. I met him in 1960 at Staunton Military Academy. We played basketball for them and had an excellent team. So shocked when I heard he had passed. He will always be in my thoughts and prayers.

John Thomas

June 14, 2020

Love you, Pete!!

Richard Baim

April 16, 2018

I just found a small poster for his MFA show at Montalvo Center. I live in upstate NY now. But between 1975-1977 I frequented Looking Glass, almost every day, getting film processed. I was, and still am, an untrained photographer. Peter always was kind and funny, always had photo advise for me, a UCB student, in the Art Department, making slide shows. I remember Peter's billboards: He would find a billboard with fruit or food on it, and over a period of weeks would paint mould and spoilage on the food. This was great art, I'm surprised no one has stolen this idea. I just found out today (4/16/2018) that Peter has been gone for over a decade, what a loss. I've never forgotten him and recall stopping by the shop to visit when I was in a show at SFMoMA in 1991, all slide shows or film. He wasn't in that day, sigh...

Dorothy Rozzi Belknap

December 1, 2014

Today, Nov 30, 2014, I came across some negs and contact sheets that I shot while studying with Peter. He was such a pushy teacher, all the more to make us smarter. On the first class day,1989, Diablo College, 33 students sat taking notes of $$$ material costs plus his expectations, just in case we thought his photography clsss was an easy credit. Came the following class session there were only thirteen of us seated. What a wash out. Then he told us about his "Number One" student; one of us would earn that Honor at the end of the semester. We all worked hard to pull ourselves up to his expectations. It was a great incentive that hung over each of us.
But at 5' tall, having faced his belt buckle for six months, the Number One honor was mine. Peter served me well through many years to come. He would be proud to know that one of my works, an artist's book, "A Place to Mend" sits in the private collection of The Museum of.Women in the Arts, Washington, DC.and another edition at the Athenaeum, La Jolla, CA. Peter led me there and I am forever grateful.
May his wife and family be at peace with their enormous loss. Peter was the best.

FRANK HOWARD

April 30, 2013

He used to tell me and I sure many of you
"Just remember these important words",
"Nobody Said It Was Gonna Be Easy"

Leyna d'Ancona

January 14, 2012

I moved away from Berkeley and only now have I heard word that Peter has passed away.
When it came to Peter's advise on photography, it also applied to life.

I took his summer class at UCB one year. He would give us assignments like shooting doors, or a still-life. He said that the image had better make him feel something. He didn't want any pictures of a police chase or drug addict in an alley way. Going after the dramatic shot, for the beginner anyway, was a cheap and easy way out. It really stuck with me. When starting a project or making big decisions I stop to think "Am I taking the easy way out?"

Peter challenged us and we all walked away with something more than just mad photography skills.
Love and Peace
Leyna

April 12, 2006

i miss you poppie

Sherwin Chew

May 7, 2005

I was merely a customer when Peter and Jack opened their store on Telegraph and Alcatraz. But slowly, I was drawn into photography. Peter opened my eyes to art. I haven't been near the store for years, but I have always appreciated Peter and his vision.

Barb Shoop Morris

May 5, 2005

Deepest Sympathy To Family:

Knew Pete from early days of high

school(1956-1960). Attended WHS-

WCH, O. Quiet and very much the

athlete in school. He was quiet

and shy.

Sincerely,

Barbara Shoop Morris

Alumni of WHS

Class of '62

Barb Shoop Morris

May 5, 2005

I knew Pete Pfersick when he was in

9th grade at Washington High School,

Washington C. H., Ohio. He was a fantastic basketball player and well

like person by all that knew him.

After graduation, didn't know where

he'd gone to college or what had

become of him. So sorry, deepest

condolences to his wife and other

family members. SO young to be taken, I'm sure he enjoyed his photography and wonderful friends

he had acquired over the years.

World will sadly miss him.

Sincerely,

Barbara Shoop Morris

Alumni of WHS- W.C.H., O.

Class of '62

Tim Taylor

April 28, 2005

I had the wonderful experience of watching Peter teach. He was demanding of his students and made them have to work harder than they might have expected when they signed up for a photo class at 8AM. But, each of them came away with an understanding, not only of the medium, but of themselves as well that could only have come from Peter. He always enjoyed his morning cup of strong black coffee, a donut was an almost obvious requirement, but it drove him crazy if someone used his coffee cup when he was away. We put up a nail for Peter to hang his cup from that only he could reach, and he would wash his cup and hang it there until the next session... however on those rare times he failed to wash it and return it, I would move the nail up about an inch and over slightly and rehang his cup, after meticulously covering up the previous spot. After about a year, even the "BIG Man" had to get on his toes to reach that cup and I smiled in the background as I saw his wonder as to why he had suddenly grown shorter, but I never fessed up to him about it. With Peter, it was always better to leave somethings to wonder. But Peter's nail is still there, and he is welcome to hang his cup there again any time he'd like a cup of strong black coffee and I would be honored to pour.

John Spence Weir

April 27, 2005

Peter was a friend. A very tall photographer at six six. Maybe even taller, as at five five I am sure he was. We traveled together on photographic trips to Mexico. He was always seen. He made friends with everyone. We had lots of good times, including many Margaritas at the end of the day.

There will always be special places

where I will see him still. Adios

Amigo mio

Darwin Marable

April 26, 2005

A gentle giant, endearing and enduring

A presence

A jock and a poet

An energetic and creative spirit

A photographer with a Duchampian wit and a surreal bent

A collector and blower of glass

A world traveler with the soul of a Gypsy

An Ambassador of American Photography without portfolio

A lecturer, teacher and curator

A friend and a husband

Simple, sensitive and unassuming

Tough, complex and enigmatic

His absence is deeply felt

Peter Pfersick

Rob Harold

April 23, 2005

I spend alot of time in the LG darkrom in the early 80's and have great memories of Peter's encouragement and advice. Shopping there over the years has been a great pleasure. thanks for a great store. Rest in peace.

Amazing Grace Harwood

April 23, 2005

Oh, Peter, Peter, Peter...

You have always been such a help to me -- advice, counsel, conspiratorial crabbiness, just having that dern store open through thick and thin and thick again. I don't really mind that I paid for so many of your trips all over hell and creation.

Wherever you are, send back film.

Best Love, AG

George P. Post

April 23, 2005

A different hat every day...muttonchop whiskers and that long straight hair which MUST have required lots of maintenance...a true Berkeley character and a fine photographer. LG hasn't been quite the same without him, and the world won't be quite the same, either, now that he's passed on.

Howard Brainen

April 23, 2005

It was an amazing experience to be part of the earliest days at Looking Glass. I think I was the second employee back in 1971/72; right after Peter and Jack opened the store.

When I started Custom Process in 1972, it was originally to provide B&W processing and proof sheets for LG customers. Later, as LG and CP grew, Peter always wanted to keep it a secret that we were doing the processing and called us the "H" lab.

Peter told people he hated business, but he was a genius at it.

I remember Peter called me about a year before opening the new (current) store. He wanted my opinion on the "ambience" of the old LG as he was concerned that he could lose that by getting "too commercial." Of course, he did a brilliant job of keeping just the right amount of funkiness when he did the new place.

When I go into LG today, I still feel Peter in there, towering over me and everyone else. I also feel the never ending continuity of life as I realize that most of the current staff have no idea that I worked there over 30 years ago; probably before many of them were born!

Part of that cycle of life is to die. And although we would all agree Peter was far too young to leave us, he has left us with many wonderful gifts.

Thank you Peter. Rest in peace.

Jim Callum

April 21, 2005

Peter's sense of humor....There used to be back in the 80's a resident from the halfway house down the block who would walk up to Peter and say "Hey Big Man, can you spare me some change?" After being hit on many more times,"Hey Big Man", Peter said it started to go to his head, yea, "I'm a BIG Man, Cool!" Then one day Debbie, Peter's great manager , was walking out the door of the shop right by Peter, when he sees our friend walk up to Debbie, all of 5 foot zero tall, and say, "Hey Big Man, can you spare some change?" Peter used to joke about how "deflated" he was after that.

Shirley LeVias

April 21, 2005

Thank You, Peter, for being that father image for my daughter, Cha. You and your gifts of photography, funny wit and sincerity will truly be missed.

Eric Klatt

April 20, 2005

Emerging out of that very special darkroom at the old store, half blind with the morning light in the finishing room (if the windows were free of postings), and having to go look waaaaay up to ask Peter for a better neg carrier; thirty years later and still fresh. (Let's not talk about the chemistry) 'Bon Voyage', Peter.

gail gillen bogert

April 20, 2005

What a sadder and duller world this will be without The Mad Hatter. Peter will be missed.

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